Oxfam issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s near-total blockade on food and vital aid as being solely responsible for Gaza’s current famine situation, amid mounting malnutrition levels, crumbling infrastructure, and increased international outrage. This call from Oxfam comes at an especially crucial time. The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) has made history by officially declaring famine in Gaza City for the first time ever in the Middle East, impacting over half a million Palestinians who face catastrophic food insecurity and projections suggesting it will extend to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by September. Nation.Cymru +11 The Washington Post +11 AP News all covered this story extensively. Oxfam’s statement points to repeated denial of aid entry from even long-standing humanitarian agencies, with requests to deliver food and lifesaving supplies being denied due to an operational model that makes providing assistance nearly impossible. The Times of India. [+10]. Oxfam America has made similar allegations. +10 This famine has been widely interpreted as man-made and preventable. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned it as a moral indictment that destroys vital systems necessary for survival. Likewise Al Jazeera reported this disaster. Aid distribution methods have also come under scrutiny; for instance, Forensic Architecture and World Peace Foundation released a joint report detailing Israel’s shift away from civilian-based aid distribution towards militariized aid distribution which limits access and increases starvation levels (AP News +15 The Guardian = Oxfam America). Additionally, food infrastructure has been severely disrupted with bakeries, mills, farmland and storage facilities all being destroyed–reducing population self-sufficiency while deepening reliance on external aid. Wikipedia Beyond food shortages, the humanitarian fallout also impacts water systems and healthcare services. Chronic shortages of clean water, hospital closures and rising disease rates compound this crisis for children, pregnant women and the elderly – especially when combined. Wikipedia TIME The international community is responding with greater urgency. South Africa petitioned the International Court of Justice for Israel to ensure essential humanitarian supplies reach Gaza immediately; according to Wikipedia, food should already be delivered “without delay.” International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli leaders over their use of starvation as a method of warfare, according to reports and sources such as AP News, Wikipedia and The Washington Post. Oxfam issued a statement condemning Israel’s murderous siege as being responsible for an increase in hunger, calling it the final chaotic stage of a full-scale human catastrophe. They urged world leaders to overcome division and complicity to act decisively on humanitarian needs in Palestine/Sinai and act decisively themselves with clarity and resolve. Their request included Oxfam America (+4), Oxfam International (+14) and X (formerly Twitter). As Gaza deepens into starvation, debate centers on how best to reverse it. Critical infrastructure lies crumbled and humanitarian corridors blocked off; thus revealing itself as much about political decisions than battlefront. Without prompt intervention by those concerned, history could condemn Gazans to unnecessary suffering and collective suffering that could have been avoided altogether.
