Refugees International president trashes Israel's food claims

Refugees International's President Jeremy Konyndyk dismissed Israel's assertion that improved malnutrition statistics in Gaza negate the famine declaration made last year. In a series of posts on X, Konyndyk pointed out that "malnutrition and starvation in Gaza have improved since the famine was declared." He explained that the reason for this improvement "is obvious: Israel had been blocking aid for over 6 months last year, and only began allowing food aid after the famine declaration."

Konyndyk emphasized that "if you hold someone's head underwater, they start to drown. If you let them up for air, it doesn't mean you weren't drowning them. This is exactly what has happened with Israel's obstruction of food aid." From March to May 2025, no aid was allowed into Gaza. Even after September, when the Trump-brokered deal opened the floodgates for minimal aid, the famine only ended after Israel lifted its obstruction of food assistance.