Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims there is no hunger in Gaza, but malnourished children are regularly arriving at Nasser Hospital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday told local media, “There is no hunger. There was no hunger. There was a shortage, and there was certainly no policy of starvation.”

In the face of international outcry, Netanyahu has pushed back, saying reports of starvation are “lies” promoted by Hamas.

However, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric this week warned that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at the highest levels since the war began.

The U.N. says nearly 12,000 children under 5 were found to have acute malnutrition in July — including more than 2,500 with severe malnutrition, the most dangerous level. The World Health Organization says the numbers are likely an undercount.

The past two weeks, Israel has allowed around triple the amount of food into Gaza than had been entering since late May. That followed 2 1/2 months when Israel barred all food, medicine and other supplies, saying it was to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during its 2023 attack that launched the war. The new influx has brought more food within reach for some of the population and lowered some prices in marketplaces, though it remains far more expensive than prewar levels and unaffordable for many.

  • LillyPip@lemmy.caEnglish
    15·
    23 hours ago

    There have been pictures of kids in this state from Africa for decades, such that people have become numb to it. People mostly don’t help. People are more worried about their own next meal now, because many people in ‘first world’ countries are one paycheque away from starvation themselves, and that’s only been made worse by the wealth-hoarding of a very few.

    I think most people want to care, but the treadmill they’re on makes them only able to see their own feet.

    This image is horrific, but if they stop running, this will be their own children, and that’s exactly what those in charge want you to feel.