‘Worst-case scenario of famine' now unfolding in Gaza, UN-backed body says
Date:
Title: Israeli human rights group official says her organization 'owed it to humanity' to call war in Gaza a 'genocide'
Content:
Returning now to yesterday's publication of two reports by two Israeli human rights groups who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Tirza Leibowitz, Deputy Director and Director of Programs, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), said her organization felt they 'owed it to humanity' to call Israel's war in Gaza a genocide.
Both PHRI and B'Tselem, another leading human rights group, accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, becoming the first such organizations inside Israel to make the claim.
'It is something that we owe to humanity. It is something that we owe in terms of solidarity with the Palestinian people and with our medical colleagues in Gaza as well.'
Tirza Leibowitz told CNN's John Vause.
PHRI published a legal and medical analysis documenting what it called 'deliberate and systematic extermination of the health system in Gaza.'
In a separate major report released Monday, B'Tselem said it came to that 'unequivocal conclusion' that Israel was committing a genocide after an 'examination of Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians and military commanders about the goals of the attack.'
Israel's foreign ministry rejected the reports by PHRI and B'Tselem, dismissing the accusations as 'obscene' and 'baseless.' It asserted that Israel only targets Hamas, not civilians, and takes 'extensive measures' to avoid harming civilians while delivering aid.
Update:
Date:
Title: "Worst-case scenario of famine" unfolding in Gaza, UN-backed food security initiative says
Content:
The 'worst-case scenario of famine' is currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, according to an alert issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a United Nations-backed initiative.
'Conflict and displacement have intensified, and access to food and other essential items and services has plummeted to unprecedented levels,' the IPC said, adding that 'mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths.'
The IPC said that the alert is intended to 'draw urgent attention to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation' but doesn't constitute a formal classification of famine. 'Given the most recent information and data made available, a new IPC analysis is to be conducted without delay,' it said.
More than 20,000 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, the IPC said, with more than 3,000 severely malnourished.
'Latest data indicates that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City,' the alert said, calling for 'immediate action' to end the hostilities and allow for 'unimpeded, large-scale, life-saving humanitarian response.'
In May, the IPC reported that the enclave's entire population is experiencing 'high levels of acute food security' and the territory is at 'high risk' of famine, the most severe type of hunger crisis.
Update:
Date:
Title: Germany and Spain to help airlift humanitarian aid to Gaza, but concede airdrops aren't enough
Content:
Germany and Spain are sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza, although top officials from both countries acknowledged the aid isn't enough.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will coordinate with France and the UK, who he said are also prepared to provide airlifts for food and medical supplies. CNN has reached out to the French and UK governments for comment.
'We know that this can only be a very small help for the people in Gaza, but at least it is a contribution that we are happy to make,' Merz said.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno also said his country would arrange aid airdrops in the next few days in coordination with Jordan.
'Some airdrops with food stuff, but that's just a drop of water in the ocean,' he told CNN's Isa Soares.
Spain plans to air-drop food aid for approximately 5,000 people into Gaza between the first and second week of August. However, the minister emphasized, 'This is not what we want. We don't want just a drop here and a drop there.'
Calling for land access and distribution through United Nations agencies, the minister said there needs to be a permanent flow of aid, 'unimpeded, without any obstacles.'
Update:
Date:
Title: Israel says it will continue working with global aid agencies to ensure assistance flows into Gaza
Content:
Israel will continue working with global aid agencies, as well as the United States and European countries, 'to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip,' the office of Israel's prime minister said yesterday.
'As part of this effort, Israel paused IDF operations in key populated areas of Gaza from 10am to 8pm every day and designated secure routes from 6am to 11pm that will ensure the safe passage of more convoys delivering aid,' the statement said.
The statement comes after United States President Donald Trump told reporters in Scotland that the US will set up 'food centers' in Gaza to address the ongoing starvation and malnutrition crisis amid Israel's aid blockade.
The Israeli prime minister's office said that Israel will 'continue to act responsibly, as we always have, and we'll continue to seek the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas. That is the only way to secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.'
The statement reiterated accusations against Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid for which it provided no evidence.
Some background: An internal US government review found no evidence of widespread theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian aid in Gaza. The analysis, conducted by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), looked into 156 incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse reported by partner organizations between October 2023 and May 2025.
Update:
Date:
Title: Trump acknowledges 'real starvation' in Gaza as the death toll climbs. Here's what to know
Content:
We're resuming our coverage of events in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump said yesterday there is 'real starvation' in Gaza and pledged to set up 'food centers' while blaming Israel for limiting aid into the enclave, during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland yesterday.
Trump's comments mark a shift from his prior comments on the aid crisis, which he has largely put on Hamas, and contradict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims that there is 'no starvation in Gaza.'
Meanwhile on the ground in Gaza, the death toll is rising as the starvation and malnutrition crisis worsens. The UN's aid chief warned the coming days will be 'make or break' for humanitarian efforts in Gaza as aid slowly trickles amid the Israel's military daily pause in operations.
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