Fact check: Who is starving the Palestinian people

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, multiple sources consistently point to Israeli authorities as the primary actor restricting food access to Palestinian people in Gaza. The World Health Organization reports that Israeli authorities are deliberately withholding humanitarian aid, including food, through an ongoing blockade that has led to severe hunger, malnutrition, and starvation among the population ^[1].

NBC News analysis indicates that Israeli restrictions on aid entering Gaza have directly caused the hunger crisis, with humanitarian organizations stating that the permitted aid levels are insufficient to prevent full-blown famine ^[2]. Al Jazeera reports that the Israeli blockade is causing starvation and malnutrition among children, with the UN warning that all children under five are at risk of life-threatening malnourishment, and that Israel is deliberately blocking over 22,000 aid trucks from entering the territory ^[3].

UN-backed global food security experts have warned of "man-made, mass starvation" in Gaza, directly blaming Israel's control of aid supplies and military actions for the humanitarian catastrophe ^[4]. Additional sources confirm ongoing starvation with reports of malnutrition-related deaths and widespread hunger due to Israel's blockade and aid restrictions ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal important geopolitical dimensions that extend beyond direct Israeli actions. The United States plays a significant role through sanctions imposed on Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials ^{[6] [7]}. One Palestinian politician characterized these US sanctions as "punishing the victim," suggesting that American policy may be exacerbating the humanitarian crisis ^[7].

Missing from the original question is the broader context of:

• The scale of the crisis, with over 60,000 Palestinians reported dead ^[8]
• The international community's response and warnings from UN agencies
• The specific mechanisms of aid blockade, including the blocking of thousands of aid trucks
• The role of US sanctions on Palestinian organizations that could compound the humanitarian situation

Powerful actors who benefit from different narratives include:

• Israeli government officials who may benefit from framing restrictions as security measures
• US policymakers who support Israeli actions while simultaneously sanctioning Palestinian organizations
• International humanitarian organizations that gain funding and attention by highlighting the crisis

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question "Who is starving the Palestinian people" contains an implicit assumption that deliberate starvation is occurring, which while supported by the evidence provided, presents the situation as definitively intentional rather than exploring the complexity of causes.

Potential bias includes:

• Framing the issue as active "starving" rather than examining the multifaceted causes of food insecurity
• Omitting the security justifications that Israeli authorities likely provide for their restrictions
• Not acknowledging the role of ongoing conflict in complicating humanitarian aid delivery
• Failing to mention US complicity through sanctions on Palestinian organizations, which multiple sources suggest compounds the problem ^{[6] [7] [9]}

The question's phrasing suggests a search for a single responsible party, when the analyses reveal a complex web of policies and actions involving both Israeli blockade measures and US sanctions that collectively contribute to the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinian civilians.