The IPC, a global body that monitors hunger crises, says 22 months of war in Gaza have left half a million people facing "starvation, destitution and death." Israel calls it "lies."

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said famine is happening in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

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).

The determination comes after months of warnings by aid groups that Israel’s restrictions of food and other aid into Gaza were causing starvation among Palestinian civilians.

Israel, which has repeatedly downplayed the extent of hunger inside Gaza, dismissed the report as false and biased; Benjamin Netanyahu said it was an “outright lie”. But United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said it was “irrefutable testimony” and described the declaration as a “moment of collective shame for the world”.

While claiming credit for the release of the other hostages, Trump asserted that not every hostage family disagreed with Israel's plan for a military occupation of the Gaza Strip. There are "probably" fewer than 20 hostages left alive in Hamas captivity out of the 50 being held by the terror group,

Satellite images taken over and around Gaza City point to preparations for the expanded military operation and show signs internally displaced people are already fleeing.

The report, supported by the United Nations, says the famine will likely spread to other parts of the Gaza strip by the end of next month.