Exposed: How Hamas Turned Illness into a False Famine Narrative

In light of the deliberate attempts by the Hamas terrorist organization to amplify the narrative of famine in the Gaza Strip, an in-depth examination conducted by the security establishment today (Tuesday) reveals the gaps and evidence that Hamas has managed a coordinated campaign as part of an entire effort aimed at defaming the State of Israel and achieving political gains.

The comprehensive examination found a significant gap between the number of reports issued by Hamas’s Ministry of Health regarding deaths allegedly caused by malnutrition, and the cases that were documented and published with full identity in the media and on social networks.

From the beginning of July, and in close proximity to ongoing negotiations, there was a marked increase in the number of deaths allegedly due to malnutrition reported by Hamas’s Ministry of Health. Until June 2025, there had been reports of 66 residents dying from malnutrition throughout the entire war. In July alone, however, over 133 residents were reported to have died from malnutrition.

Despite the allegedly high number of deaths in July, Hamas’s Ministry of Health did not publish the personal details of the deceased as it had done in the past. For example, on July 19, Hamas reported 18 deaths from malnutrition, and on July 22, another 15 deaths. Yet, from an in-depth analysis of various networks, only a few individual cases emerged. The lack of consistency and the gaps between the numerical reports and the individual publications cast doubt on their credibility.

In addition, the detailed examination of the cases that were published shows that most of the deceased suffered from pre-existing medical conditions that contributed to the deterioration of their medical condition, unrelated to their nutritional status. It also emerged that some of them had even been treated in Israel before the war. From this, it can be concluded that the documented cases do not represent the condition of the entire population of the Strip, but instead selectively present extreme cases in which a pre-existing illness was the primary factor.

For example, in recent weeks, photos of the child Abdallah al-Hani Mohammed Abu Zarqa, aged 4, have been circulated with the claim that his condition resulted from famine in the Gaza Strip. An investigation by COGAT found that he suffers from a genetic disease causing deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, along with osteoporosis and bone density loss — a hereditary condition also suffered by other family members.

It was also found that four months before the outbreak of the war, the child, accompanied by his mother, left — with Israel’s approval — for medical treatment at Al-Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem. In another case, photos were circulated of Karam Khaled Mustafa al-Jamal, aged 27, who was reported to have died from malnutrition. A security establishment inquiry found that Karam had suffered since childhood from muscular dystrophy and partial paralysis, which led to swallowing difficulties. This was a chronic medical condition unrelated to the general nutritional situation in the Gaza Strip.

The examination conducted by the security establishment, together with medical professionals, concluded that there are no signs indicating a widespread phenomenon of malnutrition among the population in Gaza. The Hamas terrorist organization cynically exploits tragic images and abuses them for a false propaganda campaign, timed as a tool of pressure aimed at creating negative public opinion against the State of Israel. The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to work to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the international community, while rejecting the claims of famine in the Gaza Strip.