Israel Rejects UN Report on Famine in Gaza
Israel has dismissed a recent report from a United Nations-supported group that claimed there is famine in Gaza. Israeli officials labeled the report “gross forgeries” and threatened to persuade donor nations to stop financial aid unless the report is retracted.
According to the August 22 report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine conditions are currently affecting the Gaza Governorate, with forecasts suggesting the situation could worsen in other regions, such as Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, by the end of September. The report estimated that nearly 641,000 of Gaza’s 2 million residents could soon face severe hunger.
The IPC also highlighted that around 132,000 children under five years old are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including over 41,000 severe cases. Additionally, more than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are in urgent need of nutritional support.
Israel Criticizes IPC’s Findings
In response to the report, Eden Bar Tal, Director General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, accused the IPC of manipulating data to reach a famine conclusion. He claimed that the IPC misrepresented statistics, saying they had fabricated some figures to meet their criteria for declaring famine.
Bar Tal noted that 182 deaths were allegedly miscounted, which he argued was necessary for the report to claim that famine conditions existed. He accused the IPC of cherry-picking data to present a biased view, stating that it selectively reported on a limited number of surveyed children, distorting actual health conditions.
Aid Distribution Challenges
The IPC’s report attributed the severe food crisis to the ongoing conflict, mass displacement of people, and strict limitations on aid access. It emphasized that much of the food that enters Gaza does not reach the intended civilian population due to various obstacles, including the actions of Hamas.
Israel has formally requested the IPC to withdraw its report, marking its intent to push for a freeze in funding from donor states until the organization’s credibility is restored. The Israeli government also released a presentation titled “The IPC Fraud” arguing against the report’s legitimacy.
Global Response
During a recent Security Council meeting, Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N., acknowledged the gravity of the hunger crisis but expressed concerns about the IPC report’s credibility. She noted that one of the report’s authors had a history of bias against Israel, calling into question the validity of the findings.
Meanwhile, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, defended the IPC’s methods and findings. He emphasized that the organization’s data is scientifically sound and that the evaluation was confirmed by independent experts. He mentioned that while acknowledging challenges with aid distribution, the IPC relied on verified sources, including data from U.N. agencies and Israel’s own reports.
On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation dire, stating that famine is no longer just a risk but a pressing reality affecting countless families in Gaza.
