The U.S. State Department has declared that a recent UNICEF report on malnutrition in Gaza “completely shatters” the allegations that Israel deliberately starved civilians, a claim that has fueled widespread criticism and accusations of genocide. This assertion directly challenges United Nations projections and media reports that had warned of impending famine in the region. The UNICEF-led National Nutrition Cluster report, which surveyed 1,335 children across 83% of the Gaza Strip, found malnutrition rates significantly lower than previously suggested, with weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) figures ranging from 0.2% to 0.8% and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) rates between 1.5% and 1.9%. These figures are comparable to, or even lower than, those in some neighboring countries, according to data cited by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). While a portion of the population could not be surveyed due to security constraints, the State Department spokesperson stated that UNICEF’s findings serve as “another example that completely shatters the countless false allegations against Israel,” urging U.N. entities, media, and NGOs to retract their “politicized and baseless attacks.” Experts like Andrew Fox of the Henry Jackson Society described the famine allegations as “pure hysteria,” attributing any localized hunger to distribution issues and criticizing international organizations for allegedly fueling anti-Israel narratives. Professor Aron Troen of The Hebrew University in Jerusalem called the UNICEF findings “very, very good news,” highlighting that the current nutrition measures are better than in some other Arab nations, and cautioned against narratives serving political agendas. However, UNICEF’s Chief of Global Media, Kurtis Cooper, clarified that their recent survey measures conditions in mid-2026, after a ceasefire and increased aid, and therefore does not reflect the conditions in August 2025 when the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) had confirmed famine, attributing improvements to scaled-up malnutrition treatment programs. Despite this clarification, the State Department emphasized ongoing U.S. and Israeli efforts to facilitate humanitarian assistance and prevent Hamas from diverting aid, alongside plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and Hamas disarmament.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
