A report prepared with the support of the United Nations warned today (Saturday) that the specter of famine looms over the northern Gaza Strip, amid escalating shelling and fighting and the near halt of food aid.

The Famine Review Committee warned in its assessment that “the possibility of famine is imminent and significant, due to the rapid deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip.”

"Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or will be soon," the report said.

On October 17, the committee predicted that the number of people in Gaza facing “catastrophic” food insecurity would reach 345,000, or 16 percent of the population, between November and April 2025.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report classified it as Phase 5 of the classification - a situation in which "famine, death, destitution and very critical levels of acute malnutrition are clearly evident".

The committee reported that since that report, conditions in northern Gaza have worsened, with food systems collapsing, humanitarian assistance declining, and water, sanitation and hygiene conditions critical.

“Therefore, we can assume that famine, malnutrition, excess deaths due to malnutrition and disease are increasing rapidly in these areas,” she added.

Since October 6, the Israeli army has been carrying out an air and ground offensive in northern Gaza, particularly in the areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping.

According to the report, aid shipments allowed into the Gaza Strip are now lower than at any time since October 2023.

Access to food continues to deteriorate, with prices of basic commodities rising on the black market.

Cooking gas rose by 2,612 percent, diesel by 1,315 percent and wood by 250 percent, the report said.

The alert noted that “as prices of basic commodities have risen dramatically and increasingly, there has been a complete collapse of livelihoods such that food and other basic needs cannot be purchased or bartered.”

The committee also expressed concern about Israel's decision last month to cut ties with UNRWA, warning of "very serious consequences for humanitarian operations."