The United Nations reported in April 2026 that a catastrophic famine is unfolding in Gaza, where around 1.6 million people are in critical condition and 570,000 are on the brink of death. The report attributes the crisis to Israel’s ongoing blockade and restrictions since October 2023, which have drastically reduced food and aid deliveries. Gaza’s population has fallen by more than 250,000 in a year, with total deaths from starvation and violence estimated between 72,000 and 75,000.

Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children and Oxfam, describe the situation as a deliberate deprivation strategy. Save the Children warns that half of the 1.6 million severely affected people are children, with 800,000 at extreme risk. Water access has dropped from 84 liters to just three liters per person. Former Israeli officials have defended the blockade, while rights groups accuse Israel of using food and medicine as weapons of war.

Analysts cited in the report say Israel’s policies aim to force Gazans into displacement through famine and deprivation. The UN’s food envoy called the official death figures “overly conservative,” warning that the humanitarian collapse in Gaza continues to deepen.