Israel has called the United Nations' declaration of famine in parts of Gaza an "outright lie," but multiple U.N. bodies, more than 100 humanitarian groups, and several of Israel's own allies have warned for months that the war and Israel's restrictions of food into Gaza are causing starvation among civilians.

The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming "systematic obstruction of aid" by Israel, hours after Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to destroy the territory's largest city.

The world’s leading hunger monitor, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in Gaza for the first time since the war began, warning that half a million Palestinians were facing “catastrophic” conditions.