Israel’s foreign minister has accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of spreading falsehoods, rejecting claims that Israel is violating international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. ABC reports that the diplomatic clash came as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a leading global hunger monitoring body, issued a stark alert warning that famine is “currently playing out” in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The situation, it said, is marked by rising starvation, severe malnutrition, and disease-driven deaths. Albanese delivered his most forceful criticism

Israel’s foreign minister has accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of spreading falsehoods, rejecting claims that Israel is violating international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. ABC reports that the diplomatic clash came as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a leading global hunger monitoring body, issued a stark alert warning that famine is “currently playing out” in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The situation, it said, is marked by rising starvation, severe malnutrition, and disease-driven deaths. Albanese delivered his most forceful criticism of Israel’s military campaign on Sunday, condemning the images of starving children as “indefensible.” His remarks directly targeted the Netanyahu government, accusing it of obstructing vital assistance to Palestinian civilians. Speaking from Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar firmly dismissed the accusations.

“This is a lie, because we are not withholding any aid, It’s not only that it’s not true, but the opposite is the truth.” he told the ABC.

  Sa’ar’s response echoed similar statements made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, who have consistently denied that Gaza is suffering from famine conditions. However, these denials sharply contrast with footage emerging from the Gaza Strip and urgent warnings from humanitarian groups and United Nations agencies, who report widespread suffering across the enclave after nearly two years of war. While the IPC has not yet officially declared Gaza to be in a state of famine, [a designation that requires comprehensive technical analysis] it said it would begin that process “without delay.” The IPC, which brings together 21 humanitarian and international organizations, plays a key role in measuring food insecurity and hunger around the world. Its latest statement called for “immediate action” to stem the worsening crisis. In response to mounting international criticism, Israel announced on Sunday it would implement 10-hour daily pauses in military operations across parts of Gaza and open new corridors to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries.

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