The international community and global press have increasingly been amplifying the Palestinian argument that Israel is engaged in a deliberate campaign of "starvation" of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Israel is preparing a counter-campaign to refute the charges, according to reporting by Ynet.
Per the report, the Israeli argument hinges on two key points:
First, Israel has allowed an ever-increasing number of trucks into the Strip and worked to expand and improve the inspection process. However, fights between the different agencies responsible for providing aid have led to many delays in its provision, both inside the displaced camps and outside it.
Israel, which does not physically control these areas, has appealed to the UN and its agencies multiple times, as well as many other countries to increase aid, and has even allowed the Palestinian business sector to start importing food.
Second, Hamas, which physically controls the territory where most Palestinians reside, regularly steals or takes control of food aid for its own purposes, whether to supply its fighters, or to force ordinary Palestinians to pay exorbitant fees for aid they should be receiving for free.
Despite these difficulties, Israel says that all aid agencies and the humanitarian coordinator tell them in joint meetings that there is no hunger or starvation, and although the situation is difficult, it is not as desperate as often portrayed in the media.
