An announcement of famine — as has now happened regarding Gaza — is a complicated decision. Here's what must be considered before such a declaration is made.

The U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said that famine is occurring in Gaza City -- a first in the Middle East -- home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and that it could spread south by the end of next month.

The United Nations human rights office in June accused Israel of "weaponising" food for civilians, calling it a war crime, after documenting hundreds of people killed by the Israeli military as they tried to reach aid distribution sites by run Israel- and U.S.-backed organisation the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the takeover of Gaza City by the Israel Defense Force and called for negotiating the release of hostages.

A U.N.-backed food security group has issued a dire warning: famine has officially now taken hold in northern Gaza and is expected to spread in the coming months.

U.N. Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher said that the famine that has struck part of Gaza was preventable, blaming the "systematic obstruction" of aid by Israel and demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu let supplies in on a massive scale.