A United Nations report on Monday predicted a famine in northern Gaza Strip from now until next May, after more than five months of war that tore through the Palestinian territories, resulting in thousands of deaths and cut off supplies.

The report issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) stated that the number of people facing "catastrophic hunger" has risen throughout the besieged enclave to 1.1 million, about half the population.

It added that "famine is now expected and imminent in the northern Gaza governorates, and is expected to become evident during the forecast period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024."

The assessment by the UN-backed initiative—which is the scale used by UN agencies, regional bodies, and relief organizations—comes amid global pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave, which has a population of 2.3 million, with about 300,000 people isolated due to fighting in the north.

The number of people considered at risk of catastrophic hunger in Gaza is nearly double the figure reported in December, when the last report on Gaza was issued and there was already a record hunger rate.

The IPC said, "From mid-March to mid-July, in the most likely scenario, and assuming an escalation of the conflict including a ground offensive in Rafah, half of the Gaza Strip population (1.11 million people) is expected to face an imminent catastrophe."

Israel said it plans to attack the city of Rafah in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt to eliminate Hamas fighters, but it is also engaged in mediation talks about a possible truce.

Calls to Stop the Fighting and Proactive Solutions

IPC analysis said famine can still be averted if Israel and Hamas stop the fighting and relief organizations gain greater access.

It added that "the measures needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision to ceasefire with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian aid access to all Gaza residents."

It continued: "All efforts must be exerted to ensure the provision of food, water, medicine, and the protection of civilians, as well as the restoration and provision of health, water, sanitation, and energy services."

The World Health Organization responded to the report by saying that "famine can be stopped—whether in the immediate term or that it requires urgent and proactive measures from parties to the conflict and the international community."

On the other hand, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency on Monday said that hunger in Gaza is "man-made."

The Director-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said during a press conference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry: "We are engaged in a race against time to try to reverse the impact of widespread hunger and looming famine in the Gaza Strip."

He added that the crisis can be resolved and reversed through the appropriate political will and that Gaza can be "flooded" with food through border crossings.

Israel Angry at Major EU Accusation

European Union foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell was more explicit in his statements on Monday, saying that Israel is causing famine in Gaza and using famine as a weapon of war.

Borrell said at the opening of a conference on humanitarian aid to Gaza in Brussels: "In Gaza, we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine affecting thousands of people."

"This is unacceptable. Famine is being used as a weapon of war. Israel is causing famine."

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, urged Borrell to "stop attacking Israel and recognize our right to self-defense against Hamas crimes."

Katz said in a post on X that Israel has allowed "wide-scale humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone who wants to help."

US President Joe Biden announced that the US military will build a temporary port on the Mediterranean coast in Gaza to receive humanitarian aid by sea, but with reports of child deaths due to malnutrition in hospitals in northern Gaza, the temporary port plan does not appear to be an immediate solution for people already suffering from hunger.

White House officials speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the implementation of the plan will take an unspecified number of weeks.