Israel Accuses Hamas of Exaggerating Malnutrition Deaths in Gaza

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has accused Hamas of inflating the number of malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza. According to COGAT, a recent review by Israeli security officials and medical experts found significant discrepancies between the figures reported by Hamas's health ministry and documented cases.

The review indicates that many of the reported deaths involved individuals with preexisting medical conditions unrelated to malnutrition. For instance, a four-year-old child, Abdullah Hani Muhammad Abu Zarqa, was highlighted in online images as suffering from starvation. However, COGAT states that he has a genetic disease causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies and had received medical treatment in East Jerusalem prior to the conflict.

Another case cited is that of 27-year-old Karam Khaled Mustafa al-Jamal, reported to have died from starvation. COGAT asserts that he had suffered from muscular dystrophy and partial paralysis since childhood, conditions unrelated to the general nutritional situation in Gaza.

COGAT concluded that there are no signs of widespread malnutrition among the general population in Gaza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a significant increase in malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza, with 63 out of 74 such deaths in 2025 occurring in July alone.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with international organizations warning of a looming famine and calling for immediate, unhindered access to provide essential aid to the population.