Study Finds Gaza Food Supply Sufficient Amid War

By Yoni Weiss

A group of academics and public health officials has concluded in a working paper that the amount of food entering the Gaza Strip during the war from January through April is sufficient for the population’s daily energy and protein needs.

Using data from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) agency of the Defense Ministry, which includes the weight of specific food consignments and standardized food parcels delivered to Gaza, the authors found that the average daily energy availability was 3,163 kcal per person.

This figure significantly exceeds the widely accepted standard of 2,100 kcal per person per day, established by the Sphere humanitarian organization as the minimum required food aid in response to a crisis.

The new study follows an announcement by International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday, seeking to charge Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with crimes against humanity and war crimes for allegedly using deliberate starvation as a method of war against Palestinians in Gaza.

“This in-depth analysis highlights that the amount of food delivered per capita should be sufficient for the entire Gazan population and meets Sphere humanitarian recommendations for food aid delivery to conflict-affected populations during the period examined,” the study found.

The authors also noted that the amount of food entering Gaza from January to April was “significantly greater” than in the pre-Oct. 7 period.