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Breaking: Gaza Food Crisis Predates Current Conflict, experts Say
A significant food crisis in Gaza was evident long before the current Israel-Hamas conflict, with a 2022 study indicating that over 75% of Palestinian families were reducing meal consumption due to food scarcity. This pre-existing vulnerability is now being exacerbated by the ongoing hostilities.
While reports from March 2024, including one from The New York Times, stated that “at least 20 Palestinian children had died from malnutrition and dehydration,” the precise causes of these deaths remain a point of contention. One viewpoint suggests that such reports may rely on sources within Hamas, raising questions about their unverified nature. Concerns have been voiced that journalists operating in Gaza may face pressure to report facts aligned with Hamas’s narrative, with past incidents cited as evidence of potential repercussions for reporting unfavorable information.
The Israeli military (IDF) has also expressed doubt regarding the specific causes of these reported child fatalities. The ability to independently verify the exact circumstances of these deaths has been hampered by restrictions on international reporters entering Gaza.
Furthermore, some analyses point to a complex dynamic involving the United Nations and Hamas, suggesting that humanitarian aid organizations operating in Gaza may be compelled to divert a portion of aid to Hamas. This alleged diversion is presented as a contributing factor to the ongoing hunger crisis in the territory.
Notably a 2022 study, conducted prior to the current conflict, highlighted the pre-existing food insecurity in Gaza, with a majority of families already cutting back on meals. This underscores that the current humanitarian challenges are not solely a product of the recent escalation of violence.
