The UN called the deprivation of Gaza residents of food an Israeli crime against humanity.

Israel's refusal to provide civilians in the Gaza Strip with access to food can be qualified as a crime against humanity. On August 4, Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that the situation in the region was unbearable.

"Israel continues to severely restrict humanitarian aid access to Gaza, and the amount of aid allowed is far from necessary. <...> Denying civilians access to food could amount to a war crime, as well as potentially a crime against humanity," the document says.

The UN representative noted that third countries should refrain from encouraging violations of international law by any party to the conflict, and use any methods to prevent violations.

"The photos and videos of people starving in Gaza are heartbreakingly unbearable. The fact that we have reached this stage is an insult to all of humanity. This serves as another reminder that violence must end once and for all. Saving lives should be everyone's priority," Turk said.

He stressed that the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should have immediate access to the hostages remaining in Gaza.

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On the same day, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the total number of deaths from starvation amid the blockade of the Gaza Strip had increased to 180 people. It is specified that over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health has registered five deaths from starvation in local hospitals.

On July 27, journalist Muhammad Mattar informed Izvestia about queues near a charity kitchen in the Gaza Strip. According to him, the food crisis in the region has worsened against the background of the closure of checkpoints, the shelling of the charity kitchen and its employees.

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