News reporter Kelly Smyth details warnings by experts of incoming famine in Northern Gaza, and the continued displacement of Palestinians from Northern Gaza
Since October 2023, Israel has issued over 67 evacuation orders on the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, these evacuation orders are still in effect for approximately 79% of the area, which has contributed to the mass displacement of up to 130,000 people from Northern Gaza to Gaza City in October and November.
On October 28 2024, 92 members of the 120-seat Israeli parliament voted in favour of legislation that would prohibit the operation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Near East in Israeli-occupied territories. The Israeli government has accused the UN agency of promoting terrorism through its education programmes for Palestinian refugees. The resolution has been widely condemned by world leaders.
Meanwhile, North Gaza is being subjected to further displacement due to famine warnings being issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification and Famine Review Committee (FRC) on November 8, which could endanger up to 75,000 people remaining in the region. This has been described as a “catastrophic situation” by the FRC, who call for all actors in the conflict to prevent the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
A continued ground offensive by Israeli forces has significantly hindered humanitarian access to North Gaza. On November 10 and 11, at least 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed in An Nuseirat, with 30 others injured or reported missing.
On November 11, an escalation in conflict in North Gaza prompted the ordered evacuation of hundreds of Palestinians in the area by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence.
The World Food Programme (WFP) successfully delivered rations on November 11 for the first time in over a month to the Beit Hanoun area of North Gaza, despite facing difficulty accessing the area. This convoy included ready-to-eat food and wheat flour, as well as clean drinking water.
The WFP attempted to plan another convoy of aid delivery to shelters and hospitals in North Gaza for November 12 but were denied access.
Between November 1 and 11, only 83 out of 195 planned aid movements in the Gaza Strip were facilitated, with 61 being denied and 12 impeded.