US media: US diplomats deny famine in northern Gaza, intensifying controversy over the crisis

On December 26th, Jinshi Data reported that, according to The New York Times, a U.S. diplomat on Tuesday criticized a new report that “strongly suggests” that a famine is likely to occur in parts of the Gaza Strip, deepening confusion and controversy over the widely followed humanitarian crisis that has sparked international attention. The report from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) cited recent food supply data and population estimates, stating that the northern Gaza Strip, where Israel has launched military operations in the past three months, is in a state of famine. In response, Jack Lu, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, stated that the FEWS Net report was “irresponsible,” relying on “outdated and inaccurate” population data and not effectively predicting food security issues. The report estimates that there are still 65,000 to 75,000 people living in the northern Gaza Strip. However, U.S. officials argue that there are only 7,000 to 15,000 civilians in the area, meaning that fewer resources are needed to sustain their livelihoods.