Personally I think this whole food argument, or whether the Palestinians can be referred to as "starving" or not, along with all the charts, data, indicators, etc etc are all just dancing around the real answer to the question and the real issue. The real answer is simply to look at the amount of food aid into Gaza, which can be fairly accurately estimated, then assume its being distributed evenly and see if those numbers are acceptable, by your standards, if they arent then you know someone is missing out by your standards. Then one also needs to go or receive accurate reports of how the food is being distributed, since Hamas largely controls that process and I doubt its fair by any reasonable standard. However thats difficult to do as its extremely hard for foreigners to get into Gaza, Al-Jezzera is unfortunately the only news source that can reasonably and often do it and unfortunately they are biased, especially regarding Israel.
So since we don't have all the data lets make what I think are reasonable assumptions based partially on data and partially on intuition. And see if we can agree.
Firstly, Hamas cannot be trusted to fairly distribute the food aid given to it or that it controls by default once it enters Gaza, so regardless of how much is given this is almost without a doubt a case like Somalia where the warlords and men with guns control the food supply as a means to control the people. Those who fall out of favor suffer for it, so people may still be starving, or at least borderline, if they aren't in favor of Hamas or just aren't important enough. Also Gaza will always be a net food importer, it simply doesn't have the proper land to grow food for its entire population.
Secondly, food is not everything. Its not an acceptable measurement of standard of living or success in turning the Palestinian situation around. One can be dirt poor, unemployed, living in an overcrowded slum, with frequent military incidents, but still well fed with no future prospects except to continue like this. I think Gaza highlights a common problem with UN aid, its what should be a temporary solution turned into a permanent one. Take a look at these pictures for example.
http://mondoweiss.net/images/2010/Joseph/DSC01142.JPG
I realize its only two photos, but its just an example. So if we look we can see some kids waving with a soccer ball, probably at a UN or news camera, they are obviously well fed. HOWEVER if we look at the 2nd photo we still what the majority of Gazans do for a living, which is dig through trash or other extremely low paying activities. They may eat well, but thats only because of the aid, they are not in any capacity to one day actually purchase the food many of them eat or increase their standard of living. THAT is the real problem, not their food aid, its their growth potential economically and personally. You can blame Hamas or Israel or both or whoever, regardless of whose fault you think it is, we should all be able to agree thats the REAL problem and the one which all these aid groups, Israel, and Hamas are overlooking. Its like that old saying, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a life time." Everyone is giving them fish, no one is teaching them fishing so to speak.
So my 3rd point is that Gaza needs to have growth potential both as a whole and among its citizens, which is quite frankly a greater concern than independence from Israel or the other on-going debates. Gaza is for all practical concerns independent and totally controls its domestic policy for the most part, but independent or not the same problems will still exist on the ground. Economically Gaza needs to grow to provide futures for its citizens, a young man currently has only ONE option for self-betterment in Gaza and that is join Hamas. He can't become a goat farmer and think "If I work real hard one day I'll be managing other goat farms, own a nice car, marry a nice girl and live in a nice house." He'll work himself as hard as he can to barely get by and never improve his lot in life. Hamas however has an organizational hierarchy which one can work up in, which means a stronger purpose in life because now he's not farming goats he's "fighting for his God and his people" in his mind. He also can afford to have goals, where he actually can work hard and be recognized, respected in his community, and be rewarded for his efforts, the smart ones aren't suicide bombers. Hamas is many bad things but one quality it does have is a merit based system, although not traditional "merits." Gaza needs people like that, who are willing to work hard, be successful etc, but they need to be using their motivation, drive and talents in more productive places.
Anyway I could keep writing but I dont want to make it so long no one will read and i think I got my major point across.
