A panel of global food security experts warned on Friday of a “strong possibility of imminent famine in areas” in the northern Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its military offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The Famine Review Commission, an independent commission, said in a rare warning: “Immediate action is needed in a matter of days, not weeks, from all actors directly involved in or influencing the course of the conflict to avoid and mitigate this catastrophic situation.”

The warning comes just days before a U.S. deadline for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza expires or face potential restrictions on U.S. military aid.

Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“If influential stakeholders do not take effective action, the scale of this impending catastrophe is likely to be far greater than anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023,” the Famine Review Committee said.