About 100 non-governmental organizations issued a warning on the 23rd that after 21 months of war, Gaza may see a "large-scale famine."
Organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), the World Medical Association, Caritas, Amnesty International, and Oxfam issued a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of aid crossings.
They pointed out that tons of food, drinking water, medical supplies, shelter materials, and fuel remain unused both on the outskirts and inside Gaza, as humanitarian organizations cannot enter Gaza or deliver these supplies.
The statement said: "Our colleagues and the people we serve are getting thinner by the day."
Earlier, the Gaza Health Department issued a statement saying that 15 people had died from hunger or malnutrition in the past 24 hours.
WHO Says Gaza Famine Is Man-Made
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also warned on the 23rd that Gaza is facing large-scale famine, and that the amount of food sent to the war-torn Palestinian territory is "far below what is needed to keep the local population alive."
He told the media: "A large part of Gaza's population is going hungry. Aside from calling it a massive famine, I don't know what else to call it. This is man-made."
He added: "We are now witnessing a sharp rise in deaths caused by malnutrition."
Israel Blames Hamas For Humanitarian Crisis
In response to criticism from international organizations about the "spread of famine" in Gaza, Israel denied responsibility for Gaza's food shortages and accused Hamas of creating the humanitarian crisis.
Israeli government spokesperson Menachem Mendel said that Hamas had obstructed the distribution of aid and looted supplies.
He said: "There is no famine in Gaza caused by Israel today. Food shortages are caused by Hamas."
The Israeli Defense Ministry's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that nearly 4,500 trucks carrying flour and baby food have recently entered Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces also denied obstructing humanitarian aid, saying that there are 950 trucks in Gaza awaiting distribution of supplies by international organizations.