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'Facts prevail over fiction,' Danon says as new UNICEF-led survey challenges Gaza famine claims

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon stated that a new UNICEF-led survey challenges claims of famine in Gaza, asserting that "facts prevail over fiction."
  • The survey, using WHO methodology, found acute malnutrition rates in Gaza between 0.2% and 0.8%, levels comparable to or below pre-war figures and lower than in neighboring countries.
  • While acute malnutrition is low, the survey identified stunting in about one in eight children and high rates of unhealthy food consumption, indicating longer-term nutritional stress and issues with diet quality.

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, asserted that a recent UNICEF-led nutrition survey in Gaza refutes claims of famine, stating, "Once again, facts prevail over fiction." He argued that the survey undermines a "false narrative against Israel" and that UN bodies are acknowledging this shift.

Once again, facts prevail over fiction. UN bodies are acknowledging that the false narrative against Israel is falling apart.

โ€” Danny DanonIsrael's Ambassador to the UN commenting on the new nutrition survey in Gaza.

Danon emphasized that Israel is not starving children but fighting Hamas, which he accused of using civilians as human shields. He called for accountability for those who spread what he termed lies about the situation. The survey, coordinated by UNICEF and employing World Health Organization (WHO) methodology, measured children's weight, height, and mid-upper-arm circumference.

Israel is not starving children. Israel is fighting Hamas terrorism, while Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields. Those who rushed to accuse Israel must now be held accountable for spreading lies.

โ€” Danny DanonAmbassador Danon defending Israel's actions and criticizing those who accused it of causing famine.

Results indicated acute malnutrition rates in Gaza ranged between 0.2% and 0.8%. The Foreign Ministry added in a statement that these figures are "exceptionally low in regional comparison." The survey also highlighted stunting, affecting approximately one in eight children, as a significant concern, pointing to "longer-term nutritional stress and repeated deprivation." Additionally, overweight was noted as present, and unhealthy food consumption reached high levels in some areas, suggesting issues with diet quality rather than just food quantity.

In other words, There is no famine in Gaza. Malnutrition is not only significantly below the critical values โ€“ it is exceptionally low in regional comparison. Anyone who is still open to arguments can look at the empirical data themselves.

โ€” Israel's Foreign MinistryThe Foreign Ministry's statement on X/Twitter regarding the survey results.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.