Gaza faces risk of famine, UN torture rapporteur warns

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has voiced deep alarm over the growing number of starvation-related deaths among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, urging all sides to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities under international law.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Edwards described the deliberate starvation of civilians as “lethal, inhumane, and degrading,” stressing that the denial of basic necessities like food and water must end immediately.

“Denying people food, water and dignity has become a tragic hallmark of this war,” she said. “Reports of people being shot while queuing for bread, and of widespread hunger and malnutrition, are nothing short of shocking.”

Edwards warned that the risk of full-scale famine in Gaza is increasing by the day, with children, pregnant women, and the elderly especially vulnerable. She stressed that international humanitarian law obliges all parties to ensure access to essential supplies and to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“They must not obstruct or manipulate the flow of aid,” she said, adding that the effects of prolonged hunger—including malnutrition, organ failure, and death—are devastating.

Beyond the physical toll, Edwards highlighted the psychological suffering endured by civilians. “The uncertainty, the shifting rules, the militarised aid distributions—this is creating deep despair and trauma among an already exhausted population,” she said.

The UN expert welcomed Israel’s recent announcement of limited humanitarian pauses to allow the World Food Programme to distribute aid in Gaza over a planned three-month period. However, she stressed that such measures, while important, fall short of what is needed to protect civilians and restore hope.

“True relief will only come when there is a just and lasting peace, anchored in a political solution,” she said, renewing support for a two-state resolution to the conflict.

“No one should be forced to beg for food while supplies sit waiting to be delivered,” Edwards added.

She also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, the release of arbitrarily detained Palestinians, and independent investigations into allegations of torture, mistreatment, and other potential war crimes by all sides.

Edwards noted that she has raised her concerns with relevant authorities and continues to press for accountability.

As part of the UN’s independent special procedures, Edwards works on a voluntary basis and does not represent the official position of the UN. Her mandate is to monitor and report on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment worldwide.