Gaza: The United Nations announced on Friday that Gaza is no longer in a state of famine, attributing the improvement to increased humanitarian aid following the October ceasefire. However, the global body warned that the territory remains in a critical "emergency" phase, with hunger levels still dangerously high.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global authority on food crises, while no areas are currently classified as being in famine, the entire Gaza Strip is in an "emergency" state—one step below famine. The monitor estimates that nearly one in eight people continue to face acute food shortages.
The persistent hunger is being aggravated by harsh winter conditions. With much of Gaza’s housing and infrastructure destroyed during the two-year war, hundreds of thousands of residents are living in frayed tents and substandard shelters.
Torrential rains and freezing temperatures have led to flooded encampments, raising the risk of disease outbreaks. Highlighting the severity of the situation, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that a 29-day-old baby died of hypothermia on Wednesday. "Children are losing their lives because they lack the most basic items for survival," said a medical supervisor at Nasser Hospital.
The IPC noted "notable improvements" in food security compared to August 2025, when famine was first declared in parts of the territory. This change follows the US-mediated ceasefire in October, which saw Israel ease some restrictions on aid entry.
However, humanitarian groups argue that aid delivery remains inconsistent. Oxfam stated that hunger levels remain "appalling" and accused Israel of blocking relief, noting that $2.5 million worth of aid is sitting in warehouses just across the border.
Conversely, Israel has vehemently denied the famine accusations. Following the report, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that even the IPC "had to admit that there is no famine in Gaza," while COGAT, the Israeli body overseeing humanitarian affairs, dismissed the report as "distorted, biased, and unfounded."
As the humanitarian crisis persists, diplomatic efforts are underway to solidify the fragile ceasefire. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish officials in Miami on Friday.
The talks aim to transition to the second phase of the deal, which involves an Israeli withdrawal from the 53% of Gaza it still controls and the deployment of a transitional authority to replace Hamas. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani has warned that delays in these negotiations, coupled with ceasefire violations, could endanger the entire peace process.