Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations asserts that new nutrition data from Gaza disproves claims of widespread starvation, labeling such accusations as a “blood libel” fueled by misinformation from Hamas.
A recent United Nations-backed survey has revealed that there is no widespread acute malnutrition in Gaza, prompting Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. to denounce previous famine claims as a “blood libel.” Ambassador Danny Danon stated that the new data, which indicates a significant decrease in child malnutrition, undermines wartime accusations that Israel intentionally starved the population of Gaza.
The remarks from Danon come in light of a newly published U.N.-backed survey that shows acute malnutrition rates among young children in the Gaza Strip have dropped to levels comparable to or below those recorded before the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“During the war in Gaza, Israel was accused by many countries and U.N. officials of deliberately starving the population,” Danon told Fox News Digital. “That was a blood libel.” He emphasized that when Israel sought clarification on the data behind these claims, it became evident that many relied on reports from Hamas.
The Gaza SMART nutrition survey, coordinated by the UNICEF-led Nutrition Cluster and presented by the State of Palestine Nutrition Cluster, evaluated 1,335 children under the age of five across regions that are home to approximately 83% of Gaza’s population. However, about 17% of the population could not be surveyed due to security and operational constraints.
The survey found acute malnutrition rates ranging from 0.2% to 0.8% based on weight-for-height (WHZ) measurements, which are estimated globally at 0.5%. Using mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) measurements, the rate was found to be 1.3%. Evaluators concluded that there was “no widespread acute malnutrition at the population level,” noting that these rates are significantly lower than those in neighboring countries. Nonetheless, issues such as stunting, poor dietary diversity, and illness persist.
Danon pointed to past statements made by senior international officials, including U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher. In a 2025 BBC interview regarding border access, Fletcher claimed that 14,000 babies were at risk of dying within 48 hours without immediate nutritional aid. This figure was later clarified to refer to an 11-month projection involving children at risk of severe malnutrition.
“That was false and did not happen,” Danon stated. “Using starvation and babies to spread blood libels against Israel is outrageous. We care about babies in Gaza more than those making these allegations against us.”
Danon emphasized that Israel maintained detailed records of food supplies entering Gaza throughout the conflict. “In terms of the food coming into Gaza, that was very easy for us to prove because we control the checkpoints and count the number of trucks coming in,” he explained.
He further asserted, “We know what they carry. Thus, we know there is no lack of food entering Gaza, and we always ensure sufficient supplies are brought in. Looking at recent reports, the situation is much better than expected, and we are glad for that. We do not want to see famine anywhere in the world, and certainly not in our backyard.”
Additionally, Danon accused Hamas of hijacking aid distribution networks for financial gain. “We know for a fact that Hamas took the aid and sold it in the market, taking advantage of the situation with inflated prices,” he said. “That is why we are trying to work with NGOs that are not infiltrated by Hamas. We want NGOs to be able to deliver aid and food without Hamas gaining control over it.”
Israel withdrew its military and civilian presence from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The current conflict escalated following Hamas’ terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and continued for two years until a ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, 2025.
As military strikes continue in the region, discussions regarding a proposed 15-point U.S. peace and disarmament plan appear stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the proposal, asserting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.
“Unfortunately, Hamas took over and turned it into a terror state,” Danon remarked. “Our vision remains unchanged: we have no desire to control Gaza. However, for progress to occur, Hamas must disarm and not move weapons from one warehouse to another.”
In conclusion, Danon noted, “Regarding the food situation, we see improvement on the ground. The prices in the markets in Gaza have gone down dramatically, which serves as the clearest indicator that there is no food shortage.”
According to Fox News, the ambassador’s statements reflect a broader narrative concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the complexities of the ongoing conflict.