Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, has refuted claims of a famine in Gaza, stating that there are “bustling markets” selling fruits and vegetables in the besieged territory. This comes after the World Food Programme raised concerns about a “full-blown famine” in parts of Gaza due to a lack of food after months of war.
Dermer dismissed the claims of famine as “nonsense” and criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar over alleged war crimes. He emphasized that there is no famine in Gaza and accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid meant for the people.
The minister also praised US President Joe Biden for denouncing the war crimes charges as “outrageous” and reiterated that Israel has never had a policy of starving the population of Gaza or targeting civilians. He condemned the ICC’s warrant application, citing comments by Israeli government officials about denying food to civilians in Gaza.
Despite reports of food markets in southern Gaza, concerns remain about access to food in the northern part of the territory, where it is dangerous for people to travel through a war zone. UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously warned of catastrophic hunger affecting 1.1 million people in Gaza, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.