Gaza: Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has questioned Israeli claims about famine in Gaza, accusing Israel of selectively presenting UNICEF data to downplay the severity of the humanitarian situation.
According to Euro-Med, the 0.5% acute malnutrition figure cited by Israel is based only on the weight-for-height measurement. Using the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement, the rate was 1.3%. This means that during the study period, around one in every 77 children under five was suffering from acute malnutrition.
The organization also highlighted a 12.2% stunting rate, meaning roughly one in eight children was affected by long-term nutritional deprivation.
The study covered only 83% of Gaza’s population, while more than 358,000 people were excluded because of security restrictions. Their nutritional condition therefore could not be assessed.
Euro-Med stressed that the study did not conclude that there was no famine in Gaza. It examined nutritional conditions during a limited period in June 2026, while famine assessments consider multiple indicators, including food consumption, malnutrition and mortality.
Citing the latest reports issued in July, Euro-Med said the improvement in conditions was limited and linked to the flow of humanitarian aid. It said around 1.4 million people could face acute food insecurity by the end of the year, while more than 74,000 children may require treatment for acute malnutrition by April 2027.
Euro-Med said relying on a single malnutrition figure does not present the full picture of food insecurity in Gaza and argued that the systematic obstruction of humanitarian assistance is also relevant when assessing allegations of starvation.