For months, Israeli media have largely ignored reports of starvation in Gaza, but a growing international outcry is forcing a shift, according to media analysts. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 79% of Jewish Israelis are untroubled by reports of famine among Palestinians, a fact experts attribute to a lack of coverage.
Anat Saragusti, head of press freedom at the Union of Journalists in Israel, said mainstream outlets have 'completely ignored' the humanitarian crisis, with only left-leaning Haaretz reporting extensively. The narrative has been shaped by the government, which dismisses starvation claims as a 'Hamas-orchestrated campaign'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated, 'There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza.'
However, international pressure is mounting. The UN World Food Programme reports that one-third of Gaza's population goes days without eating, and half a million are on the brink of starvation. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has warned of famine, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports 227 malnutrition-related deaths, including 103 children, since October 2023.
Even US presidential candidate Donald Trump, a key Netanyahu ally, expressed doubt, saying of emaciated children, 'I don't know … those children look very hungry … that's real starvation stuff.'
In a rare press conference with foreign journalists, Netanyahu displayed photos of skeletal children, claiming they were faked as part of a Hamas plot. He contrasted them with an image of an Israeli hostage, suggesting Hamas fighters are well-fed while starving hostages and civilians.
Analysts say Israeli media have now begun reporting on hunger, but often frame it as a debatable issue. Saragusti noted that the shift is driven by international coverage, but the domestic audience remains largely unaware of the scale of the crisis.
