Gaza: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has criticized Israel for denying the existence of famine in the Gaza Strip, describing it as 'the most obscene expression of dehumanization.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, took to the social media platform X to highlight the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating, "Famine is the last calamity hitting the people of Gaza. Hell in all shapes." He condemned the denial of these conditions as a severe form of dehumanization.

The UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently confirmed that famine has taken hold in northern Gaza and warned it could spread further south by the end of September. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the IPC report, labeling it "an outright lie" and "a modern blood libel."

Lazzarini urged the Israeli government to allow humanitarian organizations to provide unrestricted assistance and called for international journalists to be granted independent access to report from Gaza. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Every hour counts," and advocated for lifting the Israeli siege and achieving a ceasefire in the region.

Since March 2, Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza, closing all crossings and severely limiting the entry of humanitarian aid. This has left the region's 2.4 million residents in dire need, with only minimal aid allowed through.

The ongoing military actions by Israel have resulted in the deaths of over 62,600 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, further compounding the crisis. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.