The world faces a potential food security crisis unless action is taken on shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, warned director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu on Tuesday in Rome.
The FAO said in a statement that serious disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have hampered deliveries of oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizers, pushing up agricultural input costs.
Seed prices are also rising because seed production relies on fertilizers. Higher energy costs, the agency added, have driven up operating expenses for agrifood systems worldwide.
Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran in late February, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Israel as well as U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical strategic corridor handling one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade, as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and vital fertilizers, have throttled global energy flows and caused fertilizer prices to spike.
Disruption in Strait of Hormuz could trigger global food security crisis: FAO
Hamas on Wednesday officially confirmed that Mohammed Odeh, the newly-appointed commander-in-chief of the group's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday evening.
In a press statement, Hamas mourned Odeh, who it said had been involved in the group's military activities for more than 30 years and considered among the early founders of its armed operations.
Odeh played a key role in planning, preparation and military development during various stages of the Israel-Hamas conflict, it said.
Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the strikes "in blatant violation of all values, norms, laws and divine principles." It said the strikes also killed Odeh's wife and two of his sons, among others.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Odeh, whom he described as Hamas' fourth-ranking official, had been killed.
"We promised that Hamas will not have military or civilian control over Gaza, and so it will be," Katz said.
Odeh was appointed about a week ago to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli strike on May 15.
Since the onset of the latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct 7, 2023, Israel has killed a number of senior Hamas military and political figures in Gaza and beyond, according to Israeli and Palestinian statements.
Hamas confirms death of newly-appointed military chief Mohammed Odeh
