Oil. U.N. Food Agency chief Cindy McCain said on Thursday she had discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Gaza was facing an “adequate food shortage” and that more humanitarian aid was urgently needed.

He said the situation was “very clear” during a recent visit to Gaza. Last week, the world’s leading food crisis agency warned that Gaza’s largest city was suffering from starvation and warned that the crisis could spread to the entire region if the ceasefire and restrictions on humanitarian aid were not lifted.

McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said hunger was a reality in Gaza. “With my own eyes, I met starving mothers and children. It’s real, and it’s happening right now. ’

According to him, Netanyahu appeared “clearly concerned about people not getting enough food in Gaza.” However, in the past, Netanyahu has denied that there is hunger in Gaza, calling it part of Hamas propaganda.

“We agreed that efforts to get more humanitarian aid should be doubled immediately,” McCain said. It is imperative to ensure access and safety of our relief materials vehicles. ’

International pressure on Israel

The declaration of famine has increased international pressure on Israel. Israel has been engaged in a continuous war since the Attacks of Hamas on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, Israel says it plans to seize Gaza City and other Hamas strongholds, but no progress has been made so far on a ceasefire.

Israel rejected the famine declaration issued by the International Food Crisis Authority (IPC) and demanded its withdrawal on Wednesday.

Kogat, israel’s military agency responsible for humanitarian aid delivery, said on Thursday that more than 300 aid trucks enter Gaza every day, most of them containing food. But aid agencies say the supply is “very inadequate” due to a 22-month war, an aid blockade earlier this year and the collapse of Gaza’s food production.

McCain travelled through Gaza throughout Tuesday to meet with displaced families living in tent camps and facing starvation.

“I met an 11-member family. He came from the north of Gaza. They literally didn’t have enough food, and still don’t. ’

He said more food was being sent to Gaza through the World Food Programme, but reiterated the need to increase it further.

Present-day disaster

Un Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the famine in Gaza a “destruction of the present” and warned that it would push Israeli military strikes into a “new and dangerous phase”. According to him, this will have “disastrous consequences” and force tired citizens to flee again.

“Gaza is full of rubble, covered with corpses, and there have been instances of serious violations of international law,” Guterres said. ’

Meanwhile, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators are awaiting a response to the 60-day ceasefire proposal presented to Israel.

According to Qatar’s foreign minister, Hamas has accepted the proposal. The resolution calls for the release of 10 surviving hostages and a cease-fire in exchange for the handing over of the bodies of 18 dead, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza’s buffer zone.

Israeli invasion of Yemen

On Thursday, Israel carried out air strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa. The attack came in response to iran-backed Houthi rebels launching missiles and drones towards Israel.

The Houthis have also targeted ships in the Red Sea for 22 months and say they have launched attacks to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

Human loss

Gaza’s health ministry says about 63,000 people have been killed since the start of the war. Last day alone, 71 people were killed and several others injured in israeli attacks. According to the ministry, more than half of the dead are women and children.

Although the ministry is run by Hamas, it is considered by the United Nations and independent experts to be the most reliable source of war casualties in Gaza. Israel has disputed such figures, but has not released its official figures.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 people, most of them civilians.

Many hostages have been released through recent ceasefires and agreements. According to Israel, 20 out of 50 people are still believed to be alive.

Guterres said Israel’s responsibility as an occupying power is to protect civilians, ensure greater humanitarian access and meet their basic needs.

He described the systematic disruption of food, water and health services as “the result of a deliberate decision to ignore the basic values of humanity”.