Amnesty International has accused Israel of pursuing a “deliberate policy of starvation” against Palestinians in Gaza, as humanitarian agencies and the United Nations continue to warn of an imminent famine in the besieged enclave.
In a detailed report released Monday, the rights watchdog said Israel is deliberately restricting the entry of essential aid while destroying Gaza’s ability to sustain civilian life. The findings are based on testimonies from displaced families as well as doctors who have treated severely malnourished children in Gaza City hospitals.
“Israel is not only blocking food and medicine but is systematically dismantling the health, social, and economic fabric of Palestinian society,” Amnesty stated. The report went on to allege that these actions are part of a broader campaign intended to bring about the “physical destruction” of Palestinians in Gaza what the group described as an extension of Israel’s ongoing genocide.
Researchers interviewed 19 displaced Palestinians across three makeshift camps, along with two medical workers, to compile the evidence. Survivors described widespread hunger, the collapse of healthcare, and the daily struggle for survival amid continued bombardment and displacement.
When approached by AFP, Israel’s military and foreign ministry did not issue an immediate response. Israel has consistently denied allegations of deliberately starving civilians, insisting that restrictions are linked to security concerns.
Amnesty has previously leveled similar charges. In April, the organization accused Israel of carrying out a “live-streamed genocide” by forcibly displacing Gazans while engineering a humanitarian crisis a claim Israel rejected outright.
