“Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza,” 10 independent United Nations experts say in a statement. The UN has not officially declared a famine in the Gaza Strip.

But the experts, including the UN special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri, insist there is no denying famine is underway.

“Thirty-four Palestinians have died from malnutrition since October 7, the majority being children,” say the experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.

Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva slams the statement, charging that “Mr. Fakhri, and many so-called ‘experts’ who joined [him], are as much accustomed to spreading misinformation as they are to supporting Hamas propaganda and shielding the terrorist organization from scrutiny.”

The Israeli mission points to the latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which determined that famine had not materialized after aid access improved somewhat.

“Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip,” it says, claiming Hamas operatives “intentionally steal and hide aid from civilians.”

Israeli officials have also pointed to aid piling up on the Gaza side of border crossings as agencies refuse to distribute it over fears of looting and violence.

Source:timesofisrael.com/