Doha: Al Raya newspaper highlighted the dire situation in Gaza following the announcement by the International body responsible for monitoring global hunger (IPC), which declared a famine in the region. The paper emphasized that this declaration exposes the severe impact of Israeli actions, suggesting that Palestinians are being starved as a form of collective punishment. Al Raya questioned the ongoing silence of the international community as over half a million people suffer under continued siege and bombardment.

According to Qatar News Agency, Al Raya's editorial underscored the use of food as a weapon against Palestinians, painting it as part of a broader campaign to punish a population that has resisted displacement. The newspaper argued that the people of Palestine are entitled to dignity and deserve an assertive global response to their plight. It described scenes of desperate children in Gaza as a stain on humanity and a violation of international law.

The editorial pointed out that the use of starvation as a tactic of war is clearly condemned under international law as collective punishment. It criticized Israel for openly employing such methods through its stringent blockade of Gaza. Al Raya challenged the international community, asking what actions will follow the United Nations' official famine declaration and questioning why the world has remained passive while Gazans face slaughter, starvation, and unparalleled hardship.

The paper further criticized Israel's ability to continue its actions against Gaza's population, including children, women, and the elderly, who suffer from violence, hunger, and forced displacement. It noted Israel's denial of the grim realities in Gaza, despite widespread evidence of malnutrition, lack of medical supplies, and the lethal targeting of aid seekers.

Al Raya stressed the urgency for tangible actions that go beyond mere condemnation, as verbal denouncements do not alleviate the suffering in Gaza. The editorial concluded with a plea for the international community to fulfill its duty to protect civilians by halting the use of food and aid as weapons of war-practices it accuses Israel of employing extensively amidst the ongoing crisis in Gaza.