Is Gaza starving?

We are being told there is a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and that is true. It would be a humanitarian catastrophe even if the word "food" was never mentioned. It would be a humanitarian catastrophe even if there was more than enough food there.

Gaza is a war zone and all war zones are catastrophes. 

Last night I was asked if I knew anything about the situation in Gaza. I was asked because those asking thought I might have some sort of inside information from aid workers on the ground. I have very little information.  Aid workers doing very specific, short term jobs are not spending time there right now.,

I have very little information but what information I do have suggests that the situation is not nearly as straightforward as the news media would have us believe. There is even something in it to suggest that there is evidence that claims Israel is using food as a weapon of war is much less certain than we are being led to believe. No, they are not squeaky clean by any means but this is a war zone and all war zones have issues with humanitarian assistance.

Are they really deliberately withholding food from the everyday people of Gaza? It is unlikely. They may not be distributing it in the most efficient possible way but does that mean they are withholding much needed food?

It is unlikely because the Israeli government knows that the realistic outcome to the war is that Gaza will still be there. They will need to live with the survivors as neighbours. There is no point in trying to starve them into submission. It is likely to have the opposite effect.

So why the claims of starvation and the deliberate withholding of food? That is where the few aid workers I have had limited contact with come into the picture.They tell me that Hamas still has far greater control than is generally recognised. If you go to one of the UN controlled food distribution centres then you will find Hamas is there. They may be there in the form of the officials who are overseeing the distribution of aid. They may also be there in the form of spies within the crowd, among the people seeking aid. They will be listening to what is being said. Hamas members and those who associate with them will be ensuring that it is those loyal to Hamas who get the food. It may all seem "orderly and fair" (as they want us to believe) but the reality is otherwise. If you fail to support Hamas at the UN distribution sites you are going to find it hard to reach the point where you actually get food. If you do reach that point, and some must, then you may get less if you do not support Hamas. You may even go away with that all important bag of flour but you may not be permitted to keep it. That bag will be taken from you at another point on your return journey. It is as simple and as complex as that.

Of course we want to believe that the United Nations is there as a force for good. We want to believe they are ensuring food gets to those who need it most. We want to believe it is an incorruptible organisation only intent doing good. The reality is very different.   It would probably be fair to say that, in much of Gaza, Hamas is still, at least to some extent, controlling the flow of food. It is a powerful weapon and they use it. 

There are people who will disagree with this assessment. Before you excoriate me please remember - it was Hamas who took the hostages and who have the stated aim of destroying the state of Israel.