Hamas has urged the Arab League to convene an emergency meeting and take concrete action to confront Israel’s renewed starvation policy in the besieged Gaza Strip, warning that continued restrictions on food and humanitarian aid are pushing Palestinians toward another catastrophic hunger crisis.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called on Arab governments to move beyond expressions of concern and exert effective political and diplomatic pressure to end Israel’s restrictions on essential supplies entering Gaza.

“It is unacceptable for Israel to repeat its policy of starvation while everyone remains silent,” Qassem said, stressing the urgent need for coordinated Arab action to prevent further suffering among the Palestinian population.

Qassem urged the Arab League to organize an emergency session to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation and adopt practical measures to ensure Palestinians can access food and other necessities. He also called for public mobilization across the Arab world to increase pressure on all parties capable of helping halt the crisis.

Gaza, devastated by Israel’s military campaign and subjected to a prolonged blockade, is once again facing growing fears of widespread hunger as restrictions on humanitarian aid, commercial goods and essential food supplies continue to undermine the territory’s fragile food system.

Flour shortages, soaring food prices and the closure of several bakeries have further intensified the crisis, leaving Palestinian families struggling to obtain even basic necessities. For displaced people and other vulnerable residents, securing daily meals has become an increasingly difficult challenge.

The worsening situation has also been compounded by reductions in international food assistance. On October 19, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that funding shortages had forced it to cut the number of people receiving food assistance in Gaza from approximately 1.6 million to 1.1 million.

The decision has affected around 500,000 Palestinians, while those who continue to receive assistance have been left with smaller food rations. The distribution of hot meals to vulnerable communities has also been reduced, further weakening an already overstretched humanitarian response.

These cuts come as Palestinians continue to endure the consequences of war, mass displacement, widespread destruction and severe restrictions on the entry of essential supplies. With food increasingly scarce and prices rising, the loss of humanitarian assistance threatens to deepen the suffering of families already struggling to survive.

Hamas’s appeal highlights the growing urgency of international intervention to secure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and ensure the sustained delivery of food, flour, medicine and other essential supplies.

The Palestinian population cannot be left to face another hunger catastrophe while political statements fail to translate into meaningful action. Arab governments and the international community face mounting pressure to take effective measures to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

As fears of renewed starvation grow, the immediate priority remains clear: ending restrictions that prevent essential supplies from reaching Gaza, restoring adequate food assistance and ensuring that Palestinians are not left to endure further deprivation amid an ongoing humanitarian emergency. (ILKHA)