Famine set to be formally declared in Gaza for first time by UN-backed group
A famine is about to be declared in Gaza by the worldwide physique liable for monitoring world starvation.
The Guardian understands that the report will declare that the edge for famine has been reached in Gaza Metropolis, in elements of the south and central areas of the territory however not within the north, the place knowledge is inadequate.
The scenario within the northern areas of Gaza, which have been fully decreased to rubble largely, is considered worse than in a lot of the remainder of Gaza nevertheless, assist officers mentioned.
The UN-backed Built-in Meals Safety Section Classification (IPC) is a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of meals insecurity and malnutrition.
It has been used to declare simply 4 famines because it was established in 2004, most lately in Sudan final 12 months.
The organisation has beforehand warned famine is imminent in elements of Gaza, it has till now stopped in need of making a proper declaration, citing a scarcity of onerous knowledge.
Nonetheless, this morning, it’s anticipated to formally declare a famine in Gaza Metropolis, the final remaining main built-up space of Gaza and residential to some 500,000 folks.
The Israeli authorities has persistently denied that famine is going down in Gaza and is at present shifting in on Gaza Metropolis.
To be able to declare a famine, three strict standards have to be met: no less than 20 per cent of households face an excessive lack of meals, no less than 30 per cent of youngsters endure acute malnutrition, and two folks for each 10,000 die every day as a result of “outright hunger”.
Individuals carrying banners together with pictures of their relations collect to demand an finish to the famine in Gaza and protest towards Israeli forces focusing on journalists, in Haifa, Israel. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShare
Up to date at 04.32 EDT
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Israel releases newest knowledge on assist getting into Gaza yesterday
COGAT mentioned greater than 220 humanitarian vans had entered Gaza by means of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings
The physique printed the figures this morning on X:
Humanitarian assist abstract for August 21:
🚛📦Support entry: Over 220 humanitarian assist vans entered Gaza by means of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.
🛻📦Support assortment: Over 370 vans have been collected and distributed by the UN and worldwide organizations. The contents of… pic.twitter.com/CPpyj0FF1D
— COGAT (@cogatonline) August 22, 2025Share
Up to date at 04.52 EDT
Humanitarian scenario reaching new depths, UK warns
Talking on the disaster in Gaza, the parliamentary under-secretary of state on the Overseas, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (FCDO), Hamish Falconer, mentioned the humanitarian scenario in Gaza has “reached new depths”, Sky reviews.
He mentioned:
“Israel should instantly and completely carry all obstacles stopping assist reaching the folks of Gaza to stop the horrifying hunger within the Strip persevering with,” he mentioned.
The humanitarian scenario in Gaza has reached new depths and that’s the reason we’re doing all we are able to to finish the present struggling and alter the scenario on the bottom.
We proceed to assist efforts to result in an instantaneous ceasefire. We additionally want a complete plan to finish this distress and get to a long-term settlement that gives peace and safety for Palestinians and Israelis.”
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Israel vows to destroy Gaza Metropolis if Hamas doesn’t disarm, free hostages
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has vowed to destroy Gaza Metropolis if Hamas didn’t conform to disarm, launch all remaining hostages within the territory and finish the battle on Israel’s phrases, reviews AFP.
He wrote on social media:
Quickly, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza – till they comply with Israel’s situations for ending the battle, primarily the discharge of all hostages and their disarmament,” the minister posted on social media.
If they don’t agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will change into Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” he added, referring to 2 cities in Gaza largely razed throughout earlier Israeli operations.
The assertion got here after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned late Thursday that he had ordered quick negotiations geared toward releasing all of the remaining hostages in Gaza to accompany the operation to take management of Gaza Metropolis and destroy the Hamas stronghold.
Earlier this week, the Israeli defence ministry authorised the call-up of roughly 60,000 reservists to assist seize Gaza Metropolis.
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz speaks throughout a gathering with Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon on 18 July, 2025, in Washington. {Photograph}: Mark Schiefelbein/APShare
Listed here are a few of the photographs which have come out of Gaza in a single day and within the early hours of this morning:
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike, in Gaza Metropolis, 22 August 2025. {Photograph}: Dawoud Abu Alkas/ReutersPalestinians examine the location of an in a single day Israeli strike on a tent, in Gaza Metropolis, 22 August 2025. {Photograph}: Mahmoud Issa/ReutersMourners carrying a toddler react in the course of the funeral of Palestinians killed in an in a single day strike on a tent, in line with medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, 22 August 2025. {Photograph}: Mahmoud Issa/ReutersPalestinians maintain out their empty pots in entrance of a charity kitchen in Khan Yunis within the southern Gaza Strip on August 21, 2025. {Photograph}: AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Up to date at 04.48 EDT
Opening abstract
Welcome to stay protection of the Israel-Gaza battle. It’s 10.42 in Gaza Metropolis.
Listed here are a few of the newest developments:
Israel’s plans to increase the combating and seize Gaza Metropolis have sparked worldwide outcry in addition to home opposition. The Purple Cross grew to become the most recent voice to sentence the plan on Thursday, calling it “insupportable”. The Israeli defence ministry authorised an expanded offensive to focus on the remaining Hamas strongholds within the strip. The newly authorised plan authorises the call-up of roughly 60,000 reservists, deepening fears the marketing campaign will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian disaster within the Palestinian territory.
Family of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have urged Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities to simply accept a proposed ceasefire deal, saying a failure to take action is “a loss of life sentence for the residing hostages and a sentence of disappearance for the deceased ones.”
In Gaza Metropolis, 1000’s of Palestinians have left their properties as Israeli forces have escalated shelling on the Sabra and Tuffah neighbourhoods. Some households have left for shelters alongside the coast, whereas others have moved to central and southern elements of the enclave, in line with residents there.
Kids affected by malnutrition in Gaza might die if emergency provisions should not instantly put in place throughout Israel’s Gaza Metropolis navy operation, the top of the UN Palestinian refugee company has warned. UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini mentioned its knowledge confirmed a six-fold improve within the variety of kids affected by malnutrition in Gaza Metropolis since March.
Israeli citizen Saleh Abu-Hussein, who was detained in Lebanon for a couple of 12 months, has returned to Israel following negotiations with the assistance of the Purple Cross, the Israeli prime minister’s workplace has mentioned. The prime minister’s workplace didn’t disclose particulars on the circumstances of the citizen’s detention, in line with Reuters.
Armed Palestinian teams in Lebanese refugee camps will begin handing over their weapons to the authorities on Thursday, a joint committee mentioned, following a deal reached in Might. “At this time marks the start of the primary part of the method of handing over weapons from contained in the Palestinian camps,” Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee chairman Ramez Dimashkieh mentioned in a press release.
The UK’s Overseas Workplace has summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely over Tel Aviv’s approval of a significant settlement plan within the West Financial institution.
Turkish port authorities have begun informally requiring delivery brokers to supply letters declaring that vessels should not linked to Israel and never carrying navy or hazardous cargo sure for the nation, in line with two delivery sources. The transfer is one other step Turkey has taken towards Israel after it final 12 months severed commerce with the nation, price $7bn (£5.20bn) yearly, over its battle in Gaza with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The UK has known as on Israel to permit overseas journalists to enter Gaza as Tel Aviv prepares to step up navy operations within the territory. In a press release alongside 25 different members of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK urged Israel to “enable quick unbiased overseas media entry and afford safety for journalists working in Gaza”.
Britain imposed sanctions on one particular person and 4 entities on Wednesday underneath its Iran sanctions regime, saying they’re a part of a community that helps Tehran’s abroad actions, together with in Ukraine and Israel. The sanctions embrace an asset freeze on Iranian oil magnate Hossein Shamkhani, and on 4 corporations working within the delivery, petrochemical and monetary sectors, in line with a authorities discover printed on-line.
Iranian state tv report mentioned the nation’s first navy train because the 12-day battle with Israel concerned a frigate IRIS Sabalan and a smaller vessel, the IRIS Ganaveh, which launched Nasir and Qadir cruise missiles at targets within the sea, placing them. Coastal batteries additionally opened hearth as a part of the train.
A bunch of 17 US senators despatched a letter to secretary of state Marco Rubio on Wednesday calling for the US to press Israel to grant entry and safety to journalists in Gaza. The letter comes one week after an Israeli strike killed a bunch of Palestinian journalists within the besieged territory.
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Up to date at 03.46 EDT
Famine set to be formally declared in Gaza for first time by UN-backed group
A famine is about to be declared in Gaza by the worldwide physique liable for monitoring world starvation.
The Guardian understands that the report will declare that the edge for famine has been reached in Gaza Metropolis, in elements of the south and central areas of the territory however not within the north, the place knowledge is inadequate.
The scenario within the northern areas of Gaza, which have been fully decreased to rubble largely, is considered worse than in a lot of the remainder of Gaza nevertheless, assist officers mentioned.
The UN-backed Built-in Meals Safety Section Classification (IPC) is a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of meals insecurity and malnutrition.
It has been used to declare simply 4 famines because it was established in 2004, most lately in Sudan final 12 months.
The organisation has beforehand warned famine is imminent in elements of Gaza, it has till now stopped in need of making a proper declaration, citing a scarcity of onerous knowledge.
Nonetheless, this morning, it’s anticipated to formally declare a famine in Gaza Metropolis, the final remaining main built-up space of Gaza and residential to some 500,000 folks.
The Israeli authorities has persistently denied that famine is going down in Gaza and is at present shifting in on Gaza Metropolis.
To be able to declare a famine, three strict standards have to be met: no less than 20 per cent of households face an excessive lack of meals, no less than 30 per cent of youngsters endure acute malnutrition, and two folks for each 10,000 die every day as a result of “outright hunger”.
Individuals carrying banners together with pictures of their relations collect to demand an finish to the famine in Gaza and protest towards Israeli forces focusing on journalists, in Haifa, Israel. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShare
Up to date at 04.32 EDT
