Israel on Tuesday slammed as “completely false” a claim by the United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, that the Jewish state is denying the entry into Gaza of essential items, including 1.6 million vaccination syringes and 938,000 baby-formula bottles.

“Claims that Israel restricts baby food or medical equipment are completely FALSE. Israel does not limit infant formula, syringes, or refrigeration-related equipment,” said Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

“For dual-use items, Israel offers safe alternate solutions to prevent Hamas from exploiting aid for terror,” COGAT continued. “We sit with UNICEF at the CMCC daily, working in close cooperation and offering practical solutions for the entry of dual use items. This claim never came up.”

Hamas terrorists commandeered four UNICEF trucks carrying infant formula in Gaza City in September, robbing aid at gunpoint and depriving 2,700 babies of food, according to Israeli and United Nations sources.

The trucks, which were set to distribute formula for free, were seized just outside UNICEF’s compound. 

UNICEF data show there was no famine in Gaza

UNICEF data reviewed by JNS show that a famine was not confirmed in the Gaza Strip, as the most recent nutrition figures fell below the official famine thresholds.

Updated Global Nutrition Cluster numbers indicate that while malnutrition and food insecurity remain severe, the proportion of acutely malnourished children did not meet the criteria for famine.

JNS noted that earlier famine declarations relied on unweighted data, which analysts say overstated malnutrition levels compared to the newer, age-weighted findings.

COGAT announced on Wednesday morning that, “in accordance with a directive of the political echelon,” it opened the Zikim Crossing in northern Gaza for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

“The aid will be transferred by the U.N. and international organizations following thorough security inspections by the Land Crossings Authority of the Ministry of Defense,” the Defense Ministry unit stated in English.

In a separate statement, COGAT noted that “hundreds of trucks carrying food, water, fuel, gas, medicines, medical equipment, tents, and shelter supplies enter the Gaza Strip every day, in coordination with the U.N., international organizations, donor countries, and the private sector.”

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