The Misleading Reports of the UN Over Famine in Gaza

Key Findings:

There is a significant gap between the number of aid trucks reported by OCHA and COGAT. For example, in May 2024, OCHA reported 2,790 trucks while COGAT reported 6,359. Over the entire period, this discrepancy amounts to nearly 10,000 trucks.

The incomplete OCHA data is due to reliance on figures from UNRWA, which only counts trucks observed at certain crossings (Kerem Shalom and Rafah) and excludes aid delivered through other means (air, sea, Erez crossing). In contrast, COGAT's data includes all aid entering Gaza from various sources and crossings.

The UN's reliance on incomplete data has led to a distorted picture of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, contributing to accusations against Israel of withholding aid and causing starvation. These accusations are further amplified by biased presentations of data and selective reporting.

The UN has been criticized for its lack of transparency, reliance on potentially biased sources in Gaza, and failure to verify the accuracy of its data. This has resulted in misleading reports that downplay Israel's efforts to facilitate aid delivery and ignore the complexities of delivering aid in a war zone.

The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) predicted famine in Gaza, but these predictions have not materialized as expected. The actual death toll from starvation is far lower than forecasted. The IPC has since revised its reports, acknowledging that famine thresholds were not met.

Professional legal officials, such as the Prosecutor of the ICC and the judges of the ICJ, wishing to draw conclusions about allegations of Israel's culpability in creating a situation of hunger in the Gaza Strip, are expected to examine all the relevant evidence. This includes referring to the data in Israel’s reports, verifying it, and addressing any discrepancies between these figures and those presented by UN bodies. The analysis shows that it is dangerous to base an evaluation of the true humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip solely on UN data or IPC findings. 

Moreover, the false narrative that Israel is intentionally causing famine in Gaza has fueled international criticism and legal actions against Israel, and has also incentivized Hamas to deepen the crisis for political gain.