Factors that determine famine in Gaza City

The crisis is likely to spread to other cities without more aid and a ceasefire, group says.

- By Sam MEDNICK

PALESTINIANS STRUGGLE to obtain donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City on July 14.

The Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, according to the world’s leading authority on food crises.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said Friday that famine was occurring in Gaza City, and is likely to spread to the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Deir al Balah without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Aid groups and food security experts have warned for months that Gaza was on the brink of famine, but this is the first official confirmation.

The Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to the territory rejected the report Friday, calling it “false and biased.” The agency, known as COGAT, rejected the claim that there was famine in Gaza and said that significant steps had been taken to expand the amount of aid entering the strip in recent weeks.

Situation severely deteriorates in Gaza