Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly
denied that starvation exists in Gaza, amidst mounting international concern
and overwhelming evidence from humanitarian agencies of a critical hunger
crisis. Despite Netanyahu’s assertions, aid organisations, UN officials, and
medical professionals warn of escalating malnutrition, widespread
hunger-related deaths, and a dire risk of famine.
Did Netanyahu Deny Starvation in Gaza?
As reported by Bryony Gooch of Yahoo News, Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed at a Christian conference in Jerusalem on Sunday:
“There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza”.
Netanyahu made these remarks during an address hosted by prominent
evangelical pastor Paula White, as corroborated by the Associated Press
reporter Alon Bernstein.
Netanyahu further asserted, as detailed by The Independent’s international desk, that Israel
“enabled the amount [of aid] required by international law to come in,”
and placed the blame for any shortages on Hamas:
“Hamas steals this humanitarian aid and then accuses Israel of not supplying it”.
What Evidence Contradicts Netanyahu’s Statement?
Humanitarian Agencies Warn of “Dangerous Trajectory”
The World Health Organization declared on Tuesday that malnutrition in Gaza is on a “dangerous trajectory,” noting 63 deaths from hunger in July alone, with around one in five small children in Gaza City acutely malnourished, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA). The UN accuses Israel of
“deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health and humanitarian aid,”
referencing an 11-week total aid blockade implemented at
the start of March.
United Nations: Famine-like Conditions
As stated by Ross Smith, director of emergency preparedness and response at the UN World Food Programme (WFP),
“the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row.”
Smith told UN News:
“A quarter of the population is facing famine-like conditions. Almost 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and need treatment as soon as possible.”
Smith underscored,
“People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance every day, and we are seeing this escalate day by day”.
How Severe Is the Humanitarian Crisis?
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC), Gaza faces a critical risk of famine, and 470,000 people—about 22% of
the population—are currently on the brink of starvation. Severe malnutrition is
widespread, with entire families seeking emergency food and medical care. The
medical system is “shattered,” food supplies have nearly depleted, and there is
almost a complete absence of aid entering Gaza for over three months.
Testimonies from Gaza
The BBC’s Middle East correspondents have interviewed
several Gaza residents and doctors. One 17-year-old patient at Al Shifa
Hospital reported, “I'm merely requesting a piece of bread. That's all I need.”
A physician at the hospital explained that surgery was not possible due to the
child's malnutrition, which has left injuries unable to heal. Another mother
revealed her son’s weight had dropped from 40kg to 10kg due to lack of food. A
young girl, who had a limb amputated, described the crisis as “severe and
devastating famine in Gaza,” with the cost of basic food staples reaching
astronomical figures.
How Much Aid Is Israel Allowing into Gaza?
UN Says Aid Is Inadequate
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, acknowledged
recent Israeli steps to increase aid delivery but said current supplies are “a
drop in the ocean.” He emphasised the urgent necessity for “immense quantities”
of food to prevent further starvation. Gaza’s health ministry announced that 14
additional people died of malnutrition within 24 hours, pushing the
malnutrition death toll since October 2023 to 147, including 88 children,
according to BBC reporting.
Despite these warnings, Netanyahu insisted, according to the Times of India and the Associated Press,
“We facilitate humanitarian aid to enter Gaza throughout this conflict; otherwise, there would be no Gazans left. The only force obstructing humanitarian aid is Hamas”.
He accused the UN and aid agencies of misrepresenting the situation:
“Stop lying. Stop making excuses. Do what you need to do”.
Are There Any Independent Reports of Aid Theft by Hamas?
According to the New York Times and Reuters (per BBC’s summary), senior Israeli military officials and US government analysts indicated
“there has been no proof of systematic aid theft by [Hamas],”
specifically regarding US-funded humanitarian assistance.
How Is the International Community Reacting?
Criticism from World Leaders and Human Rights Organisations
Former US President Barack Obama has described the starvation in Gaza as “preventable” and called for urgent international response. The United Kingdom, supported by over 20 nations, asserted that the
“plight of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels”.
Over
100 aid and human rights groups warned this week of the “mass starvation”
threatening Gaza, with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reporting that 25% of
children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at its clinics are
malnourished.
Dissent from Allies: Trump Not Convinced
Reporting from Axios by Barak Ravid reveals that US ex-President Donald Trump, during a meeting with the UK Prime Minister in Scotland, rejected Netanyahu's claim:
“Based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry... There is real starvation in Gaza – you can't fake that”.
Is a Famine Being Officially Declared in Gaza?
Despite the worsening crisis, a formal famine has yet to be
declared for Gaza. NPR’s journalists clarify that while humanitarian agencies
and on-the-ground reports confirm famine-like conditions and soaring
starvation-related deaths, only specific criteria met by authorities such as
the UN classify a situation as an official famine, reflecting the scale and
technical complexity of such a designation.
What Is the Israeli Government’s Position?
Netanyahu, as quoted by the Times of India and other outlets, maintains that Israel is
“committed to achieving [its] war goals,”
including releasing hostages and dismantling Hamas’ military and governance
structure. He categorically dismissed reports of starvation as part of “a
campaign of lies” and continued to argue, in the face of global outrage and
mounting death tolls, that “there is no starvation in Gaza”.
What Does the Future Hold for Gaza’s Humanitarian Situation?
Aid agencies, including the UN and Red Cross, warn that
unless hostilities de-escalate and Israel allows substantial humanitarian
access, Gaza’s catastrophe will deepen, placing hundreds of thousands more at
risk of starvation. Many in the international community now question not
whether action is necessary, but whether it is already too late for countless
vulnerable civilians