Human rights monitor warns of famine in Gaza

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor warned that severe food shortages and bakery closures amid the Israeli blockade are escalating the risk of famine for over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The organization alleges these conditions constitute a deliberate strategy of starvation with genocidal intent, highlighting a worsening humanitarian crisis fueled by controlled border crossings and disrupted supply routes.

A human rights organization has raised alarms about an escalating risk of famine in the Gaza Strip, attributing the situation to severe shortages of flour and essential food items, the closure of bakeries, and a significant decline in the population’s purchasing power. These developments come amid the ongoing Israeli blockade and restrictions on the entry of humanitarian and commercial goods into the territory.

In a statement issued recently, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med Monitor) highlighted that tightened controls over the quantity, quality, and frequency of food supplies have severely impacted over two million Palestinians in Gaza. The organization pointed to the destruction of local food production infrastructure and disruptions to supply routes, which have compounded the difficulties in securing basic food necessities.

Euro-Med Monitor characterized this situation as part of an ongoing use of starvation as a tactic within what it described as a genocide that has been continuing since October 2023. The group referred to the deliberate imposition of conditions aimed at depriving the Palestinian population of essential survival resources, asserting that such actions meet the criteria of genocide as outlined under Article II(c) of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The organization further argued that the persistence of these harsh conditions, despite clear evidence of their lethal consequences and repeated warnings, indicates a specific intent to cause the physical destruction of the Palestinian people, either wholly or in part. They cited what they described as the systematic destruction of essential life-sustaining elements, efforts to prevent their restoration, and statements from Israeli officials suggesting an intention to undermine the demographic fabric of the Palestinian population.

According to Euro-Med Monitor, the regulation of border crossings and strict control over the flow of goods are being employed as instruments to enforce these conditions, effectively facilitating the perpetuation of a humanitarian crisis that could lead to widespread famine and further population deterioration.

The statement reflects the monitor’s broader concerns about the humanitarian impact of the blockade and the state of siege conditions imposed on the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to the specific allegations made by Euro-Med Monitor regarding intent or classification of the measures under international law. The ongoing conflict and restricted access to humanitarian aid continue to present significant challenges for the civilian population in Gaza.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.