In a recent statement, 10 independent United Nations experts have accused Israel of carrying out a "targeted starvation campaign" that has resulted in the deaths of children in the Gaza Strip. The experts, including UN special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri, have declared this campaign as a form of genocidal violence and have highlighted the famine-like conditions prevailing in the Palestinian territory.

According to the experts, 34 Palestinians, mostly children, have died from malnutrition since 7 October. They pointed out that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza, with recent deaths including six-month-old Fayez Ataya, 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi, and nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida. Earlier this year, two more children, a two-month-old baby and a 10-year-old named Yazan Al Kafarneh, also succumbed to hunger in northern Gaza.

While the UN has not officially declared a famine in the Gaza Strip, the experts emphasized the dire food scarcity and urgent need for intervention. Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva swiftly denounced the statement, accusing the experts of spreading misinformation and supporting Hamas propaganda.

Israel has consistently blamed the sufferings in Gaza on the rule of Hamas. The ongoing war was ignited by an alleged terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 240 others as hostages. The UN experts, however, contend that the blame cannot solely be placed on Hamas and raise concerns about Israel's response and its impact on civilians.

The Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, has reported that over 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war-torn territory. The international community has been warned by the experts and the UN about the deepening crisis and the looming famine, particularly in northern Gaza.

The Israeli mission emphasized that famine had not materialized in Gaza, pointing to the assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership. It highlighted Israel's increased coordination and assistance in delivering humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip, while accusing Hamas of stealing and hiding aid from civilians.

The United States has been urging Israel to enhance the flow of aid into Gaza in recent months to address the humanitarian crisis. The US military was assigned the task of constructing a floating pier on the territory's Mediterranean coast, although logistical challenges have hindered its effectiveness. Aid agencies have criticized Israel for limiting aid access to Gaza, while Israeli authorities assert that it is Hamas obstructing humanitarian efforts.

Although a famine declaration does not carry legal implications, it serves as a call to action and can rally international support. The UN experts, in their statement, have urged the international community to intervene and prevent further deaths, emphasizing that inaction is complicity in this humanitarian crisis.