Cherry Picking: the Gaza Nutrition Cluster Survey, Hasbara and Famine Denial

E. Mark Windle 15 August 2026.

In July 2026, results of the Gaza Nutrition Cluster Survey were presented at a Nutrition Cluster Coordination Meeting. Objectives were to estimate the prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition and morbidities in 1,335 children since the October 2025 ‘ceasefire’. Additional aims were to assess health seeking behaviours of their mothers and to review feeding practices of caregivers.

On the face of it, the results were surprising: not least the low percentage of malnutrition being reported. Using weight-for-height z-scores (a statistical reflection of individual variance in wasting compared to a population), acute malnutrition rates between regions ranged from zero to 0.8%. On the basis of Mid Upper Arm Circumference (an indirect marker of muscle and subcutaneous fat stores), a maximum of 1.9% acute malnutrition was found. Using a system that combines the results from both techniques acute malnutrition was recorded at a maximum of 2%.

Polarised response

These levels were well below previous findings. Almost a year previously the Famine Review Committee had announced famine had arrived in Gaza. Greater humanitarian partner presence and the doubling of nutrition treatment sites were considered to be significant influences on the latest figures. Other reasons included increased nutrition monitoring and intervention with supplementary feeding, and increased breastfeeding support since the ‘ceasefire’.

The global response was instantaneous and highly polarised. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the UN, amplified the findings via social media and the press, using results to support Israel’s narrative that the famine in Gaza had always been a manufactured lie. The Jewish Chronicle led with the headline “How a United Nations study shatters the Gaza starvation narrative”. Other pro-Israel media outlets commented that this was a nail in the coffin for an international attempt to vilify Israel.

Gaza Nutrition Cluster findings and limitations ignored

The alternative take was that these comments were a brazen demonstration of Hasbara in overdrive. There had been no denial from humanitarian groups that there was some—limited—mitigation of overall malnutrition. Observations had tracked the improving trend in food access since the previous year’s famine. It was also true that malnutrition rates cited in the new survey were low. But the methodology had not been designed to investigate the question of famine in 2025. Other evidence had already been considered by the FRC to support that. The latest analysis was of information collected from a much more recent period.

Israeli authorities selectively interpreted the survey data in other ways. Certain findings were ignored, including the fact that that overall vulnerability remained high, with continuing evidence of stunting and poor diet quality. Survey investigators acknowledged that any nutrition gains were fragile. Additionally, they were highly dependent on continued food access, the incidence of disease and availability of specialised nutrition support.

Also completely ignored by Israel was a major methodology limitation. Collecting data in conflict zones is precarious at best. As clearly stated by the researchers:

“The survey is representative (only) on areas that are accessible for humanitarian interventions within each Domain and Gaza Strip i.e. areas considered inaccessible were removed from the sampling frame before the cluster selection.”

In other words, those studied by default were likely to have high levels of access to food, while those likely to be at risk of malnutrition were not reached for assessment.

Reality on the ground

For many civilians, the lifting of Gaza’s famine alert has been academic and a declaration of a ceasefire farcical. Six months into the ceasefire, the US and IDF had started a series of joint attacks on Iran. Israel simultaneously closed Gaza borders once again, with COGAT announcing:

“…several necessary security adjustments have been implemented, including the closure of the crossings into the Gaza Strip, among them the Rafah Crossing, until further notice. The rotation of humanitarian personnel is postponed at this stage.”

Airstrikes and ground attacks continue. People are still dying. Border closures with little or no notice and lengthy customs delays are creating hurdles for agencies trying to coordinate supply chains and deliver perishable goods. Food and water access in many areas, particularly those not assessed by the Nutrition Cluster, remains a serious issue.

Highly volatile factors influence food security in regions of long term conflict. Levels in malnutrition can fluctuate over time and in both directions. But when windows appear for escalations in organised nutrition intervention, those opportunities must be genuine, sustained and reach an entire population. Gaza’s famine of 2025 may have quiesced but the issue of chronic population-wide malnutrition is far from resolved. The adverse effects of malnutrition on morbidity and mortality are also long-lasting. Meanwhile, Israel continues to deny there was ever a problem.

(Excerpt from the book “Where The Olive Trees Grow” by E. Mark Windle, scheduled for publication mid-2027. Why not come on the journey and support a Palestinian artist at the same time—find out more on my Crowdfunder page).