What does it take for a famine to be declared in Gaza?

Palestinians in Gaza City hold out pans at a food distribution run by a charity. The World Food Programme said Monday that hunger in Gaza has reached "astonishing levels," with a third of the population of just over 2 million people currently going multiple days without eating.

Reports of starvation in Gaza raise the questions: Why the hesitation in labeling it a famine? And who are the authorities with the power to make that call?

(Image credit: Khames Alrefi/Anadolu)