The US State Department said Friday that it was looking into a recent report in which the UN declared a famine in Gaza, adding that the humanitarian situation there was “a serious concern.”

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a serious concern. We are diligently working to find ways to deliver aid to innocent people in an active warzone where there is a serious looting problem, a hostage crisis, and a barbaric terrorist organization that will do anything to stay in power,” a State Department spokesperson said.

The United Nations on Friday officially declared a famine in Gaza, the first in the Middle East, with its experts saying 500,000 people were facing “catastrophic” hunger.

“We are looking into credible reports that the IPC recently changed its definition for what constitutes a famine,” a State Department spokesperson said, referring to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), which is a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises.

“We are likewise aware that Hamas is systematically promoting a false narrative of deliberate mass starvation to put political pressure on Israel,” the State Department official added.

President Donald Trump has said one of his main foreign policy goals is to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

The State Department official said the US remained focused on ending the conflict in Gaza, ensuring Hamas never again governs Gaza, and ensuring the delivery of critically needed humanitarian aid to Gazans.

“President Trump and Secretary Rubio have prioritized getting aid to the people in need while implementing safeguards to prevent Hamas from stealing and looting the assistance,” the spokesperson said.

According to the State Department, citing the UN, from May to August, nearly 57,000 pallets of food, 4,083 trucks, and over 50,000 tons of food were looted in Gaza. “Food is going into Gaza but is not getting to the people who need it,” the spokesperson said.