Israel has declined to acknowledge a United Nations report that claims starvation is occurring in Gaza, dismissing it as “total forgery.” Officials from the Foreign Ministry have indicated that Israel will lobby donor nations to withdraw funding unless the report is rescinded.
The Integrated Food Security Stage Classification report released on August 22 states that hunger is already present in Gaza, with the situation expected to worsen in areas like Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. It estimates that nearly a third of Gaza’s population, around 641,000 people, may soon face severe hunger.
Moreover, the IPC predicts that by 2026, 132,000 children under five years old will experience acute malnutrition, with over 41,000 in severe conditions. More than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women also require urgent nutritional support.
The report criticized nearly two years of conflict, the displacement of 1.9 million individuals, the collapse of local food production, and strict limits on humanitarian aid. Even when food does reach Gaza, many cannot access it, the report added.
In response, Israel completely rejected the findings. Foreign Ministry Director Eden Bar Tal accused the IPC of fabricating data to reach its hunger conclusions. He claimed the IPC used “forged” statistics and manipulated evidence to support its claims, going so far as to suggest the report was crafted to benefit Hamas.
The Foreign Ministry has sent a formal letter asking for the report’s withdrawal, warning that Israel would advocate for donor countries to halt funding for the IPC until its integrity is restored. They’ve even shared a PowerPoint labeled “IPC scam,” suggesting the processes used were misleading.
The IPC has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the matter. During a recent Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, acknowledged hunger as a serious issue that the U.S. prioritizes but also expressed reservations about the IPC’s reliability.
She emphasized the need for trustworthy data, noting that one of the authors involved in the reports has a history of bias against Israel.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, defended the IPC’s analytic methods, saying they are based on verified data from reputable UN agencies. He added that the report highlights the barriers faced by humanitarian organizations in delivering necessary aid.
Finally, Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed the urgency of addressing hunger, calling it a modern catastrophe that leads to people’s suffering and death.
