Research Unveils Key Insights into Food Aid Distribution in Gaza Amid ICC Investigation

Research Unveils Key Insights into Food Aid Distribution in Gaza Amid ICC Investigation

A newly released research study is posing significant challenges to the International Criminal Court’s investigation regarding allegations of starvation in Gaza. This study highlights the critical role of Hamas in managing aid distribution, raising questions about the validity of claims against Israel.

Last week, tensions escalated when Hamas leadership refused to extend a ceasefire agreement and failed to release 59 hostages still held in Gaza. In response, the Israeli government implemented a halt on all goods and supplies entering the region, a move that has drawn sharp criticism.

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. relief chief, labeled this decision as alarming, yet it found support from the Trump administration, further complicating the situation.

Retired Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former spokesperson for the IDF, dismissed assertions of widespread starvation. He stated that while aid enters Gaza, Hamas continues to misappropriate supplies. “More than 25,200 trucks arrived during the ceasefire — enough for four months. If there’s hunger, it’s a direct consequence of Hamas corruption, not insufficient food,” he remarked.

The research, titled “Food supplied to Gaza during seven months of the Hamas-Israel war,” was spearheaded by public health experts Aron Troen and Ronit Endevelt, along with researchers from various Israeli universities and the Ministry of Health. The study meticulously analyzed food shipments to Gaza from January to July 2024.

The researchers employed international food composition databases alongside Sphere humanitarian standards to evaluate caloric intake and nutritional quality, ultimately providing an objective and data-backed assessment of food supplies delivered to Gaza during the initial months of the conflict.

Food shipments processed through Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, or COGAT, were evaluated. Each shipment was categorized according to its caloric content, as well as its protein and micronutrient components. The research then compared the overall nutritional supply per capita against established international benchmarks.

Professor Ronit Endevelt emphasized the study’s commitment to objectivity, stating, “We didn’t enter politics; our goal was solely to determine if the food entering Gaza was adequate nutritionally. We meticulously verified our data to avoid any exaggeration.”

From January to April 2024, the study noted that 14,916 trucks delivered 227,854 tons of food to Gaza, averaging approximately 124 trucks per day. It revealed that the daily per capita caloric intake averaged 3,374 kcal, including 101 grams of protein and 80.6 grams of fat — all meeting or exceeding international humanitarian food aid standards.

Amid rampant reports of potential famine, the United Nations Integrated Food Security Phase Classification issued a warning in March 2024. Troen highlighted how quickly cautious technical language morphed into alarming media headlines and political rhetoric claiming that mass starvation was already in effect.

He refuted claims that, prior to the ongoing war, 500 or more humanitarian trucks routinely entered Gaza each day, asserting that the actual figure was closer to 100 trucks daily. The study was conducted to fill the gap in understanding food shipments and their verification, indicating that at no point did supply levels plummet to starvation thresholds.

While addressing testimonies from Gazans who reported food shortages at times, Endevelt acknowledged that their study did not track food distribution within Gaza itself. “We cannot deny that there was hunger, but we can confirm that there was sufficient food entering the region. Most of the time, in most months, food availability was adequate,” she stated.

Understanding the Distortion of Aid

A significant takeaway from the study reveals the difference between the food supply and its distribution. Endevelt pointed out that Hamas weaponized food distribution, utilizing it as a means of control. Supplies often did not reach those in dire need due to Hamas’s actions, who seized goods for their own gain or sold them on the black market. Reports of famine reflect Hamas’s deliberate strategy of restricting access, not a lack of humanitarian aid.

Despite these findings, scrutiny has persisted, especially from the ICC investigation and global critics. Troen noted that IPC reports, frequently cited in accusations against Israel, failed to adequately consider Hamas’s role in manipulating aid.

In response to inquiries regarding whether the ICC would incorporate the new research findings into its ongoing investigation, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor reiterated its standard protocol. They indicated that investigations involve various sources including states, international partners, and civil society, and emphasized confidentiality in safeguarding both the integrity of investigations and the safety of individuals involved.

The U.N. spokesperson directed inquiries to the IPC, which requested additional time to formulate a response. However, an extension led to a lack of subsequent communication.

Challenges in Publishing the Findings

Publishing this study encountered significant hurdles. Troen explained that due to perceived anti-Israel bias within segments of the scientific community, they chose to submit their findings to the Israeli Journal of Health Policy Research, a peer-reviewed platform under Springer Nature. This choice was geared toward disseminating data quickly to aid humanitarian efforts, despite the politically charged atmosphere complicating the review process.

Endevelt remarked that the study faced exceptional scrutiny, stating, “This was one of the most rigorously reviewed studies I’ve ever participated in. We endured an extensive process with multiple reviewers and months of revisions for utmost accuracy.”

The research team, which included experts from several prestigious universities, epitomized a commitment to scientific integrity. Their paper, now widely cited, underscores the critical need for transparent data in assessing humanitarian crises.

Moving Forward: Ensuring Aid Reaches Those in Need

Troen concluded with a clear message: given the volume of food reaching Gaza alongside ongoing hunger reports, it is evident that distribution practices must see improvement. Effective collaboration between U.N. agencies, COGAT, and Palestinian civil society is essential, without interference from Hamas, to ensure that humanitarian aid effectively reaches those who need it the most.