Ankara: Switzerland expressed concern Friday about the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, following confirmation of famine in Gaza City. "Switzerland is alarmed by the confirmation of famine in Gaza City. Immediate humanitarian response at scale is needed to prevent further deepening and expansion. Israel must allow unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip now," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the US social media company X.

According to Anadolu Agency, the call for urgent action came after the UN-backed monitoring body, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), reported that as of August 15, famine in Gaza had been confirmed with reasonable evidence. The situation has raised significant international concern, prompting calls for immediate intervention to address the humanitarian crisis.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, reiterated the severity of the situation on Friday, stating that the famine in Gaza is a result of deliberate actions by the Israeli government. This follows the formal confirmation of the famine by the IPC, highlighting the critical need for humanitarian aid and unrestricted access to the region.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Israel reportedly killing nearly 62,300 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has caused extensive devastation in the enclave, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions and contributing to the onset of famine.

In response to these developments, international legal actions have been initiated against Israeli leaders. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.