UN chief warns of man-made famine in Gaza, urges unrestricted aid
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UN officials warn Gaza is facing man-made famine amid Israeli blockade as Guterres urges immediate, unrestricted aid flow and lasting ceasefire.
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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during a high-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State solution at the UN HQs, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the people of Gaza are enduring a “horrific humanitarian catastrophe,” blaming the famine-like conditions on the ongoing Israeli-imposed blockade and war on the besieged territory.
In a post on X, Guterres cited the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), confirming what he called “our worst fears”, that Gaza is on the brink of full-scale famine.
“The facts are undeniable,” Guterres said. “This is not a warning. It is a reality unfolding before our eyes.”
He stressed that the limited aid trickling into Gaza must be transformed into a massive, unrestricted humanitarian surge. “Food, water, medicine, and fuel must flow in waves, unimpeded,” he said.
The latest @theIPCinfo alert confirms what we have feared:
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 29, 2025
Gaza is on the brink of famine.
The facts are in — and they are undeniable.
Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.
This is not a warning.
It is a reality unfolding before…
Guterres also reiterated the urgent need for an immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all captives, and full, unrestricted humanitarian access across Gaza.
'Only flooding Gaza with aid can stop famine'
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini echoed the UN chief’s alarm, stating that the worst-case famine scenario is already happening in Gaza, and that the disaster is entirely “man-made.”
In a separate post on X, Lazzarini said, “Gaza has reached the brink of famine, with widespread hunger and acute malnutrition.”
He emphasized that “the only way to reverse this catastrophe is to flood Gaza with massive quantities of aid.” According to Lazzarini, the UN, including UNRWA, has the logistical capacity, with over 6,000 trucks of food and medical aid ready to enter Gaza from Jordan and Egypt.
“Let us operate without restrictions, in safety and dignity,” he urged.
The worst case scenario of #famine is now happening in #Gaza according to the leading world experts.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) July 29, 2025
An entirely man-made famine.
The threshold of famine has been reached with widespread starvation & malnutrition across the war-torn enclave including among children.
More than… https://t.co/XpfiRDbtCq
IPC report confirms rapid deterioration
The dire warnings from the UN and UNRWA came in response to the latest IPC report issued Tuesday, which stated that “the worst-case scenario of famine is rapidly unfolding in Gaza.” The report cited continuous conflict, mass displacement, and extremely limited humanitarian access as driving factors.
Food access and other essential services have plummeted to “unprecedented levels,” the IPC noted, adding that recent data shows Gaza’s food consumption has reached starvation levels in most areas, with particularly acute malnutrition in Gaza City.
The IPC called for urgent international action, including a cessation of hostilities, the safe and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid, protection of civilians and aid workers, and the restoration of commercial flows.
🚨 #GazaStrip Alert
— The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (@theIPCinfo) July 29, 2025
The worst-case scenario of #Famine is rapidly unfolding in the #GazaStrip amid relentless conflict, displacements, and extremely limited humanitarian access.
📄 Read more: https://t.co/mPlpJRtLda@TheIPCinfo #FoodInsecurity #Malnutrition pic.twitter.com/B0b3d9Ramd
Israeli occupation accused of engineering famine and chaos
While the humanitarian community calls for urgent access, the Israeli occupation continues to restrict and obstruct aid into Gaza, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. On Monday, the office accused the Israeli regime of “engineering famine and deliberately fostering chaos” across the enclave.
Officials noted that only 87 trucks entered Gaza on that day, many of which were looted due to lawlessness exacerbated by Israel’s blockade and aerial surveillance.
The office described a recent massacre in northern Gaza as a “dangerous escalation.” According to their statement, Israeli forces first blocked the trucks, then targeted community forces responsible for securing the aid routes, killing 11 members. Only after the attack did the Israeli occupation allow the aid trucks in, which then fell into the hands of armed groups, under direct protection from Israeli drones and live fire.
'Air drop operations are a farce'
Khalil al-Hayya, Head of Hamas in Gaza and a member of its political bureau, demanded the immediate and dignified entry of food and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, describing it as the "true measure of whether negotiations are meaningful."
He rejected what he called the "absurd theatrics of airdropped aid operations," insisting that the suffering and blood of the Palestinian people should not become "a bargaining chip in the occupation's political games."
The Hamas leader accused the Israeli occupation of attempting to "eliminate the role of UN and local aid institutions and maintain death traps to kill our people."
Highlighting the deepening humanitarian collapse, al-Hayya said the people of Gaza feel "greatly betrayed when they see silence in the face of Gaza’s starvation, while vast capabilities sit idle." He continued, "Is it not painful for our people to witness the unlimited support to the Zionist entity while receiving no aid even to quell their hunger?"
