The United Nations has formally rescinded its famine declaration for Gaza, marking a significant yet fragile improvement in the Palestinian territory’s food security situation. According to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative, no areas in Gaza currently meet the technical criteria for famine—a stark reversal from the organization’s August 2025 declaration, the first such designation ever issued in the Middle East.
The improvement is attributed to the partial easing of restrictions on humanitarian aid following the October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. However, the IPC emphasized that the entire Gaza Strip remains classified at emergency levels of food insecurity, with approximately 1.6 million people projected to face crisis-level hunger through mid-April.
Aid distribution continues to face severe challenges, with delivery described as limited, uneven, and fluctuating daily. The ceasefire remains fragile, with both parties regularly accusing each other of violations. UN agencies warned that without sustained access, supplies, and funding, several regions—including North Gaza, Gaza Governorate, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis—could rapidly deteriorate into famine conditions if hostilities resume.
The humanitarian situation extends beyond food security, with over 70% of Gaza’s population living in makeshift shelters. Winter floods and plummeting temperatures have increased risks of hypothermia, while severely limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities has created conditions ripe for disease outbreaks. Agricultural infrastructure has been devastated, with over 96% of cropland damaged or inaccessible and livestock populations decimated.
Israeli officials acknowledged the improved situation but criticized the IPC’s methodology, claiming it presented a distorted picture by overemphasizing UN aid trucks while ignoring other assistance channels. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations like Oxfam accused Israel of continuing to block critical aid, with millions of dollars worth of supplies reportedly stranded at border crossings.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for expanded access points, reduced restrictions on critical items, and safe routes within Gaza, while also highlighting the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank where Palestinians face escalating violence and movement restrictions.