For now the famine is centred in the governorate of Gaza, one of five in the strip. It is the most densely populated and home to Gaza city. By the end of September, famine is expected to spread south to the governorates of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis (see maps).

"An entire population is being pushed into starvation, destitution, and death,” said Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) defines Famine as a situation in which at least one in five households has an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.

Israel is intensifying airstrikes in neighborhoods on the outskirts of Gaza City, raising alarm among residents as the Israeli security cabinet plans to meet Thursday to formally approve plans that would expand the war in Gaza.

Israel has begun the "first stages of the attack on Gaza City" on Wednesday as it plans to call up to 60,000 reservists in order to occupy the city, according to an Israeli military official.