Israel rejects UN report and claims no famine in Gaza

Israel has rejected the findings of a UN-backed food security report, insisting there is no famine in Gaza and the findings were based on “Hamas lies”. The Foreign Ministry statement came after the Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) panel said famine was now confirmed in the Gaza governorate, which includes Gaza city and covers about 20 per cent of the strip. “There is no famine in Gaza,” the ministry said. The IPC panel’s findings were “based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests”, it claimed.