Israel’s war on Gaza live: Imminent famine an ‘entirely manmade disaster’

UN chief Antonio Guterres says a new report warning that famine is now imminent in northern Gaza is an “appalling indictment” of the situation on the ground.In a statement released on X, Reporters Without Borders, also known by its French name Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), has called the arrest of Al Jazeera Arabic’s Ismail al-Ghoul “part of Israel’s ongoing crackdown on the press”.

“RSF demands the release of correspondent Ismail a-Ghoul, arrested by the army at Al-Shifa hospital,” the statement reads, saying that he was beaten and his equipment destroyed.We’ve been reporting all day on intense fighting at and near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, has reported on its Telegram channel that its fighters have been engaged in “fierce clashes” with Israeli forces in the area since dawn.

The group said it targeted “a number of Zionist vehicles, causing deaths and injuries among their ranks”.The organisation’s global humanitarian director, Unni Krishnan, says that according to the IPC’s analysis in December, famine could be prevented if a cessation of hostilities occurred in the Gaza conflict and increased humanitarian aid entered the enclave, but that did not happen.

“This horrific situation was entirely avoidable, and it’s not too late to take action to prevent more children from dying. We fully agree with the IPC warning: Waiting for a confirmation that famine is occurring or has actually occurred to take radical measures is indefensible,” Krishnan said.

He added that his organisation “more urgently than ever before” calls for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire and a massive increase in humanitarian assistance”.

“Israeli restrictions on aid, siege tactics, and Israeli military attacks against civilians, humanitarian aid, health and relief workers must cease immediately. The starvation of the civilian population is illegal under international humanitarian law.”