Israel has strongly rejected a United Nations report declaring famine in northern Gaza, calling it a 'modern blood libel' and accusing the hunger monitor of relying on sources from Hamas. The report, based on data collected between July and August, found that over half a million people in Gaza are experiencing famine, with numbers expected to rise. Israeli officials argue that the declaration ignores their humanitarian efforts and aid deliveries, and claim that aid is often looted before reaching those in need. The United States also expressed skepticism about the report, suggesting that Hamas is promoting a false narrative of deliberate mass starvation for political reasons. Aid organizations, however, attribute the worsening hunger crisis to prolonged conflict and recent blockades, which have severely disrupted the flow of food and humanitarian assistance.