Humanitarian workers and food security experts told ABC News that an official declaration may not matter. There are no legal obligations from countries or international organizations when a famine is determined, and it is merely a sign that the food insecurity in an area is the worst it can be.

The leading international authority on food crises predicted "widespread death" in Gaza without immediate action.

The hunger crisis in Gaza has become visible from space as thousands of Palestinians can be seen crowding around aid trucks in new satellite imagery.