US Ambassador to Israel Dismisses USAID Report Raising Gaza Famine Warning

Last updated on December 24th, 2024 at 12:38 pm

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew has dismissed a report produced through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that reiterated famine concerns in northern Gaza.

The report at issue was published on the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET); a website formed by USAID for tracking global famine risks.

The Dec. 23 FEWS NET report states if Israel doesn’t change its policies regarding the entry of food into the Gaza Strip, areas of northern Gaza will soon meet the United Nations criteria for a famine, known as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5.

“If the food supply remains cut off from North Gaza Governorate, the combination of starvation and disease would most likely push non-trauma mortality above 2 people/10,000/day between January and March, meeting the third criterion for Famine (IPC Phase 5),” the report states.

Responding to the FEWS NET report, Lew said the USAID component had drawn its conclusions from outdated and inaccurate data.

In particular, Lew asserted the population in the North Gaza Governorate is actually significantly lower than the FEWS NET report suggests.

While the FEWS NET report relied on a Nov. 16 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimate that placed the number of people in north Gaza at between 65,000 and 75,000, Lew offered a trio of alternate estimates that put the population in that area between 5,000 and 15,000 people. Lew derived his estimates from figures presented by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) agency, and figures presented by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); the latter of which is a United Nations office specifically established for administering to the Palestinian population.

The Dec. 23 FEWS NET report does acknowledge a Dec. 22 UNRWA report that describes between 10,000 and 15,000 people in north Gaza. Still, FEWS NET said UNRWA presented those figures in a way that left unclear if it was referring to the entire North Gaza Governorate or just a subsection of north Gaza. The FEWS NET report further asserts that it’s famine warning holds, even if the total number of people in the Gaza Strip is as low as 10,000.

“The range of the estimated daily number of deaths (2-15 deaths per day, applying the crude death rate threshold for Famine of 2 deaths/10,000/day) captures the lowest possible base population for a Famine (IPC Phase 5) classification on the low end (10,000 people), and the maximum estimated base population (75,000 people) on the high end,” the report reads.

Nevertheless, Lew accused FEWS NET of behaving irresponsibly with its data and conclusions.

“At a time when inaccurate information is causing confusion and accusations, it is irresponsible to issue a report like this,” he said. “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’s remarks present a rare public glimpse of the infighting within the U.S. executive branch regarding its policy toward Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.

Lew did not address the possible reasons for such a large discrepancy in the number of people in north Gaza.

For weeks, reports have circulated that Israeli forces have adopted a policy to starve out those resisting their presence in the Gaza Strip. This policy, devised by retired Israeli generals and dubbed the “Generals’ Plan,” entails Israeli forces cordoning off sections of the Gaza Strip and ordering people to relocate. Under the plan, those who refuse to leave a cordoned area are to be denied access to food and other humanitarian supplies and treated as lawful combatants.

Critics have said the “Generals’ Plan” amounts to an ethnic cleansing plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin has publicly denied implementing the plan, but reports suggest aspects of the proposal are in effect.

In mid-October, President Joe Biden’s administration issued a warning message, stating Israel could be in violation of U.S. humanitarian laws and policies if it didn’t take specific steps to improve the flow of food and other critical supplies to the Gaza Strip within a 30-day period.

By the end of the 30-day period on Nov. 12, the U.S. State Department said Israel remained compliant with U.S. humanitarian laws and policies. By contrast, eight human rights groups assessed Israel had done little to actually improve conditions in the Gaza Strip since the issuance of the warning letter.