A United Nations monitoring body has officially declared famine in Gaza, marking the first such declaration in the Middle East. The UN stated the crisis "could have been prevented" if aid access had not been "systematically blocked by Israel."
Residents describe dire conditions, with one mother telling CGTN: "My daughter has no food, no medicine." Health workers report widespread malnutrition among children as humanitarian corridors remain restricted. The declaration follows months of escalating food insecurity affecting 1.1 million people.
International organizations urge immediate action to prevent further loss of life, while analysts warn of regional destabilization. The World Food Programme estimates 97% of Gaza's population now faces acute hunger.
