UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the deliberate use of hunger in conflicts, pointing to the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza, where months of siege have left children malnourished and families starving. Speaking at the UN Food Systems Conference in Ethiopia, he warned: “Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept its use as a weapon of war.”

His remarks come as Gaza endures its fifth month of severe famine conditions under blockade. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has reported that malnutrition among children under five has doubled in recent months, with images from the enclave showing emaciated bodies and children collapsing from exhaustion and hunger.

Guterres also stressed the role of climate change in worsening the crisis, disrupting agriculture and aid delivery while conflict intensifies the suffering. Calls are mounting for an immediate ceasefire to enable large-scale humanitarian assistance, as Gaza’s population faces starvation under siege and bombardment.

From a Palestinian perspective, Guterres’ warning underscores what many describe as a systematic policy of starvation imposed on an already devastated population. Each passing day of inaction deepens the human toll, leaving Gaza’s civilians trapped between conflict, famine, and the world’s silence.