US says it pushed retraction of famine warning for north Gaza; aid groups are concerned

Declaration of famine would be an embarrassment for Israel, which insists its war in Gaza is aimed against Hamas, not against its civilians

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Displaced Palestinians clamour to receive meals from the Rafah Charitable Kitchen (Tekia) in Khan Younis, Gaza. The United Nations and international organisations have warned of famine in Gaza. Photo: dpa

Published: 4:02am, 27 Dec 2024Updated: 5:10am, 27 Dec 2024

A lead organisation monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel’s “near-total blockade,” after the US asked for its retraction, US officials told Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the US ambassador to Israel.

The rare public dispute drew accusations from prominent aid and human-rights figures that the work of the US-funded Famine Early Warning System Network, meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased international experts, has been tainted by politics.

A declaration of famine would be a great embarrassment for Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population.

US ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognised group inaccurate and “irresponsible”. Lew and the US Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza.

Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of US political interference in the world’s monitoring system for famines. The United States embassy in Israel and the State Department declined to comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions.

“We work day and night with the UN and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs – which are great – and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said on Tuesday.