Gaza City: An Israeli blockade on the entry of essentials has worsened humanitarian conditions in Gaza and is slowly killing more than two million people in the enclave, local authorities warned on Tuesday. 'Around 2.4 million Palestinians are suffering from severe and catastrophic food insecurity,' Ismail Thawabteh, director of Gaza's government media office, told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, Thawabteh highlighted that over 90% of Gaza's population depends entirely on food assistance. He emphasized that 'food aid is no longer arriving due to Israel's closure of Gaza's crossings and the prevention of the entry of aid.' This blockade has led to dozens of bakeries halting operations because of a shortage of flour and fuel.

International programs and organizations have been compelled to suspend their support for food distribution and bakery operations. Thawabteh noted that some mobile bakeries are functioning at a very limited capacity. He warned that Gaza "is facing the imminent threat of famine, and parts of it are already experiencing famine."

The crisis has escalated since March 2 when Israel closed Gaza's crossings, blocking essential supplies from entering the enclave despite multiple reports of famine in the war-devastated territory. The situation deteriorated further after the Israeli army resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement established on January 19.

Israel's military actions since October 2023 have resulted in the deaths of more than 51,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children. In light of these events, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.