RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday voiced deep concern after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) formally declared a famine in the Gaza Strip, warning that the worsening humanitarian catastrophe is the result of Israeli occupation forces’ actions against defenceless civilians.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement, also strongly condemned the genocide crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against defenceless civilians.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is a direct result of the absence of mechanisms to deter and hold accountable the repeated crimes of the Israeli occupation,” it said.
“This will remain a stain upon the international community, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, unless it steps in immediately to end the famine and stop the war of genocide and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people,” it said.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's deep concern in light of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report and the official declaration of famine in the Gaza Strip. It also condemns the genocidal crimes committed by the… pic.twitter.com/R6aaRg7OKO
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 22, 2025
The United Nations on Friday officially declared a famine in Gaza, blaming Israel for the “systematic obstruction of aid”, hours after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Katz threatened to destroy the Palestinian territory’s largest city.
Israel angrily denied there was a famine, with the foreign ministry saying the report was “based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests”.
The famine was declared by experts at the Rome-based IPC, who said it affected 500,000 people in the Gaza governorate, which covers about a fifth of the Palestinian territory, including Gaza City.
The IPC projected that the famine would expand to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis governorates by the end of September, covering around two-thirds of Gaza.
UN agencies and aid groups have warned for months of a looming famine in Gaza, where Israel has severely restricted aid and at times completely cut it off during its nearly two-year war with Hamas.
“After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death,” the IPC report said.
By the end of September, it is expected that 614,000 people to be facing the same conditions.
