Israel is contesting a recent UN-backed report on the humanitarian situation in Gaza that said famine was imminent and likely to occur by May in northern Gaza.

The report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) further heightened global concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in the bombarded Strip.

COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry body responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, says in response that “the report contains multiple factual and methodological flaws, some of them serious.”

It argues the report grossly underestimated the amount of water available per person per day, notes a lack of data acknowledged by the report and reliance on information from Hamas, and notes reports in Palestinian media “every day” of “food markets filled with food of all types and kinds” in various parts of Gaza.

It says: “We outright reject any allegations according to which Israel is purposefully starving the civilian population in Gaza.”

“Even at the height of hostilities, in a war that was forced upon it, Israel places no limits on the amount of aid that can enter Gaza, and absolutely does not limit the entrance of food. Israel also facilitates entry of complementary products such as cooking gas and diesel fuel for the operation of the aid centres, bakeries etc. Additionally, 14 million litres of water are supplied by Israel.

It adds that “In recent months between 150 and 200 trucks are admitted per day, most of which are food trucks. This is an 80 per cent spike in comparison to the daily average food trucks that entered Gaza pre-October 7.”