Israel Disputes Report of Imminent Famine in Gaza

Latest Developments

Israel on March 29 disputed an international organization’s report of impending famine in Gaza, arguing that it has inaccuracies based on limited and unreliable data. The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli body responsible for facilitating aid to Gaza, rejected the March 18 report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which claimed, “Famine is now projected and imminent in the North Gaza and Gaza Governorates and is expected to become manifest during the projection period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024.” COGAT replied that the report does “not reflect the full situation in the Gaza Strip.”

Countering IPC’s claim that Gazans receive less than 1 liter of water per person per day, COGAT assessed that multiple desalinization plants, water lines from Israel, and fuel provided to support the local water pumping system produce closer to 20 liters of drinking and cooking water per person per day. Israel also highlighted its ongoing efforts to provide other humanitarian aid to the strip, including facilitating 350 aid trucks into northern Gaza throughout March, refueling and resupplying hospitals and health centers, and supporting the reopening of 21 local bakeries.

Expert Analysis

“Rather than waging an information war against Israel, UN agencies and NGOs should be working with Israel to ensure the vast amount of food and water coming into Gaza gets verifiably distributed and stays out of Hamas hands.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“According to Israel, distribution within Gaza — not supply from without — is the major obstacle. The only guaranteed way to avert a humanitarian disaster is by swiftly eliminating Hamas. Efforts to shield the terrorist group will only increase and prolong Palestinian suffering.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Israel Says ‘No Limits or Restriction’ on Food Aid Entering Gaza

Israel noted that its “war is not with the civilian population in the Gaza Strip” and that “it places no limits or restriction on the type or amount of foods that can enter the Gaza Strip.” Since the Gaza war began, Israel has facilitated 19,448 trucks carrying 363,775 tons of aid into Gaza. Aid deliveries include food, water, shelter equipment, medical supplies, fuel, and cooking gas. Israel continues to highlight distribution challenges beyond its control within Gaza that prevent aid from reaching Gazan civilians. On March 29, COGAT noted that 23 percent of the humanitarian aid that has entered Gaza since January has not been distributed, asserting that Hamas may “hijack” it or it may be “piling up in aid agencies’ warehouses.”

Related Analysis

“Israeli Troops to Provide Protection for Gaza Aid Pier,” FDD Flash Brief

“New Maritime Humanitarian Corridor Opens for Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Sidesteps UNRWA to Deliver Gaza Aid Via WFP,” FDD Flash Brief