An organization dependent on the Israeli Ministry of Defense published a new report on Tuesday claiming that “there is no sign of generalized malnutrition phenomenon” in the Gaza Strip, where the UN has been warning for weeks against a risk of “generalized famine”.
The COGAT, in charge of the civil administration of the Palestinian territories, indicates in this report that it has carried out an “in -depth examination” of the data and figures of Hamas on the deaths due to malnutrition in the Palestinian territory.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza, under the control of the Islamist movement, estimates to date the total number of hunger victims at 227 dead, including 103 children.
The cogat is “a significant gap” between these figures and “documented cases, with complete identification details” in the media and on social networks “, which” raises doubts about their credibility “.
“The analysis on a case -by -case basis of published deaths shows that most (…) suffered from pre -existing medical conditions which led to the deterioration of their state of health, unrelated to their nutritional status”, also affirms the COGAT, for whom these “extreme cases (…) do not represent the condition of the general population of the Gaza Strip”
COGAT maintains in conclusion that there is “no sign of a phenomenon of generalized malnutrition” among the Gazaouis, denouncing “the cynical exploitation of tragic images” by Hamas.
“Refutation of lies”
In a statement on Tuesday, the Hamas government published a long “refutation of the lies” of the COGAT, “desperate and vain attempt to camouflage an international crime at the international level, systematic famine” of the Gazan population.
Since the start of his war in Gaza in reprisal in the bloody attack of Hamas on October 7, 2023, Israel has beset more than two million Palestinians, submitted in early March to a total humanitarian blockade, then lightened in May and then again at the end of July against international criticism.
The Palestinian territory, totally dependent on humanitarian aid, is threatened with a “widespread famine”, according to the UN, which called for “flooding it”.
According to the latest figures made public Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO), 148 people have died of the effects of malnutrition since January, and nearly 12,000 children under the age of five have been identified as acute malnutrition in July – the highest monthly figure recorded to date.
The World Food Program (PAM) estimates that “more than a third of the population does not eat for several days in a row” and points to “acute malnutrition in sharp increase”, with “more than 300,000 children in severe risk”.
Daily, AFP correspondents witness chaotic scenes during aid distributions, entered by trucks or dropped by the air.
For Jean-Guy Vataux, MSF chief of mission in the Palestinian territories, interviewed Tuesday by AFP, “malnutrition in Gaza is a reality, it progresses quickly and impacts the whole population”, the middle class included.
