Famine confirmed in Gaza City for first time, UN-backed report says | BBC News

Famine has been confirmed in Gaza City for the first time, a UN-backed body responsible for monitoring food security said.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine is confirmed in the Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City and its surrounding area, with "catastrophic conditions" projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.

It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his cabinet has approved plans for a new assault on Gaza City.

The IPC does not itself formally declare whether a famine is happening, but provides analysis that allows governments, organisations and agencies to issue declarations about famine.

Israel said it "firmly rejects" the findings of the latest IPC report, claiming "the report is false and relies on partial, biased data and superficial information originating from Hamas, a terrorist organisation”.