In his press statement on 18 October 2024, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, discussed the critical issue of starvation and food sovereignty in Palestine. Fakhri highlighted the "systemic issue" behind the ongoing humanitarian crisis, stating that "starvation is the result of choices that are made over decades." He emphasized that Israel's blockade and siege of Gaza, which began in 2000, led to "profound rates of hunger and malnutrition," ultimately enabling the "starvation campaign" of 2023, which caused widespread food insecurity. Fakhri called for accountability beyond just individuals, stressing the need to hold "countries and corporations accountable" for their role in perpetuating this crisis. Fakhri also addressed the broader context of violence against Palestinians, noting that Israel's "attack against UNRWA which is not just an UN agency," but one that ensures food security for refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the occupied territories. He warned that the uprooting of olive trees by Israeli forces and settlers is a direct attack "against the Palestinian people as a people," symbolizing the destruction of both their ancestral heritage and future generations. Fakhri concluded with a stark warning: Israel's "attempt to erase the Palestinians from history and from their land" is tied to its ongoing annexation plans, with the ultimate goal of "fully annexing Palestinian territory."
