US calls new report asserting famine in north Gaza ‘outdated and inaccurate’

US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew issues a rare statement rejecting an internationally-backed organization’s food security report asserting that a famine continues to unfold in Gaza.

“The report issued today on Gaza by FEWS NET relies on data that is outdated and inaccurate,” Lew says.

Lew takes particular issue with the report’s apparent reliance on figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to inflate the number of civilians still in north Gaza.

“We have worked closely with the government of Israel and the UN to provide greater access to the North Governorate, and it is now apparent that the civilian population in that part of Gaza is in the range of 7,000-15,000, not 65,000-75,000 which is the basis of this report,” the US envoy states.

“[Israel’s] COGAT estimates the population in this area is between 5,000 and 9,000. UNRWA estimates the population is between 10,000 and 15,000,” he continues.

“At a time when inaccurate information is causing confusion and accusations, it is irresponsible to issue a report like this. 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 adds.

Throughout the war, the US has rejected conclusions from aid agencies and rights groups that Israel is perpetrating a genocide in Gaza but critiques of specific figures used by these organizations have been more rare.