Gaza: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Trk issued a strong condemnation following the declaration of famine in the Gaza Governorate by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Trk attributed the dire situation to the Israeli Government's actions, which have included significant restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and essential goods necessary for the survival of Gaza's civilian population.
The statement highlights the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where deaths from starvation and malnutrition have been reported. Trk emphasized that the Israeli military's destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, agricultural land, and the ban on fishing, coupled with the forcible displacement of the population, are key contributors to the famine.
Trk further stated that using starvation as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime, and the resultant deaths could also be classified as the war crime of willful killing. He urged Israeli authorities to take immediate action to end the famine in Gaza Governorate, stressing the need for the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid and full access for UN and other humanitarian organizations to prevent further loss of life.