Israeli Report Refutes Claims of Hunger Crisis in Gaza

By Yoni Weiss

Major General Ghassan Alian, director of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), released a report on Sunday countering recent allegations against Israel regarding food security in Gaza. The report highlighted factual errors and methodological flaws in a United Nations report on the subject.

According to the U.N. report, which utilized the IPC index to assess food security, it was projected that under ongoing conflict conditions, up to 50% of Gaza’s population (1.1 million residents) could face famine (phase 5 on the index), with 38% expected to experience an emergency (phase 4) and 12% facing a crisis (phase 3).

COGAT’s report debunked claims of widespread starvation in Gaza, emphasizing that 150-200 aid trucks, predominantly carrying food supplies, enter the Strip daily — a significant 80% increase compared to pre-Oct. 7 averages. Israel has also facilitated additional channels for humanitarian aid transfer to Gaza, including maritime routes, airdrops, and aid packages, in cooperation with various countries.

The report revealed logistical challenges faced by U.N. agencies and aid organizations in handling the influx of supplies, with hundreds of trucks awaiting distribution by aid workers at the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Contradicting the U.N. report, COGAT provided data regarding food and water availability, refuting accusations of starvation in northern Gaza. It highlighted that the U.N. report relied on data from local bodies, including the Palestinian Health Ministry controlled by Hamas, which may have vested interests in providing misleading information.

Furthermore, social media posts, videos, and reports from Palestinian media depicted markets in areas like Rafah, refugee camps, central Gaza, and the northern Strip stocked with a variety of foods.

Major General Alian stressed ongoing communication with the international community and rigorous examination of claims, condemning the IPC report’s inaccuracies and its failure to acknowledge Israel’s humanitarian efforts during wartime.

However, despite Israel’s rebuttal, even the United States acknowledged a “real possibility” of hunger among Gazans in the northern coastal strip.