Israel’s war cabinet member, Ron Dermer, has refuted claims of a famine in Gaza, stating that there has never been such a situation in the besieged territory. In response to the World Food Programme’s warning of a “full-blown famine” in parts of Gaza due to a lack of food after months of war, Dermer described the claims as “nonsense” and highlighted the presence of bustling markets selling fruits and vegetables in Gaza.
Dermer criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar over alleged war crimes. He emphasized that there is no policy of starving the population of Gaza or targeting civilians, despite comments made by Israeli government officials suggesting otherwise.
While Dermer acknowledged the existence of food markets in southern Gaza, he dismissed reports of starvation in the region, attributing any malnutrition to pre-existing genetic conditions. He also mentioned the challenges of distributing aid within Gaza due to Hamas allegedly stealing humanitarian assistance.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had previously warned of catastrophic hunger affecting 1.1 million people in Gaza. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region continue to draw international attention and scrutiny.