UN rejects Netanyahu’s claim, recalls Trump Gaza hunger admittance
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Netanyahu has claimed that "there is no hunger in Gaza" and denied the existence of any "policy of starvation."
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Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City in northern Gaza, on July 26, 2025 (AP)
UN humanitarian spokesperson Jens Laerke on Tuesday pushed back against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that "there is no hunger in Gaza," citing recent remarks by US President Donald Trump.
"I think there's one person I agree with today, and he said that a week ago, and that was President Trump. He said there's real starvation in Gaza. Remember that? I think that's worth remembering," Laerke said during a news conference in Geneva, responding to a question from Anadolu.
Also present was James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF, who referred to alarming findings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The IPC’s latest report warns that “the worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza," Elder said, highlighting severe and worsening conditions based on extensive field data.
Elder also pointed to a surge in child deaths linked to malnutrition, explaining that severely malnourished children are far more likely to die from otherwise treatable illnesses like pneumonia or measles.
He called for attention to the ongoing humanitarian blockade and urged the international community to let “the facts on the ground speak for themselves.”
"I think it's very important that there is an increasing amount of pressure now from many governments because of the deprivations, nutritional situation we see in children and in mothers and in women, and in the elderly. So the facts speak for themselves," the official added.
As Gaza death toll rises, UN warns 'Israel' using starvation as weapon
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Tuesday that 87 Palestinians, including eight recovered from under rubble, were killed in the past 24 hours, with 644 others injured.
Since October 7, 2023, the death toll from the Israeli assault has climbed to 61,020, with 150,671 wounded. Between March 18, 2025, and today, there have been 9,519 killed and 38,630 injured.
Among those killed in 24 hours, 52 were seeking humanitarian aid, and 352 others were injured. This brings the total toll of what Gaza health officials call "martyrs of livelihood" to 1,568, with more than 11,230 injured since the start of the war.
Hospitals also reported eight new deaths from famine and malnutrition in the past day, including one child and seven adults. The total number of deaths linked to starvation has now reached 188, among them 94 children.
