Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed over the past month near aid hubs established under a new Israel-backed system, according to health officials in Gaza.
A month after launching this aid system, Palestinians face life-threatening risks when attempting to access heavily guarded distribution points, hampering efforts to provide sufficient food to a desperate population.
Frequent violence has erupted near these sites, primarily located in southern Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reported that hundreds were killed within the past month around the distribution points, managed by American security contractors and protected by Israeli troops.
In a separate initiative that has also deteriorated, the United Nations and international organizations have been delivering limited food supplies to northern Gaza. Witnesses reported that desperate crowds have been ransacking trucks carrying essential goods shortly after their arrival.
Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. agency for coordination of humanitarian affairs, described the new aid distribution hubs as “death traps” for the Gazan population. “Gaza is the hungriest place on earth,” he stated, emphasizing the critical situation following an influx of deliveries that are often stolen by the desperate populace.
The aid system, managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has only a few functioning distribution hubs primarily in the south. This system was a response to Israel blocking aid deliveries for nearly three months. While some restrictions were lifted on May 19, criticism has arisen regarding the efficacy of the new system, which fails to meet the overwhelming need and forces individuals to risk dangerous journeys for food.
Israeli military forces have reportedly opened fire on individuals approaching these aid sites, with the military asserting they fired “warning shots” in response to perceived threats. Israeli officials argue that the G.H.F. sites are essential to prevent Hamas from manipulating the aid process.
France condemned Israeli gunfire that resulted in numerous civilian casualties near an aid distribution point in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported treating individuals shot in such incidents, with a field hospital in Rafah receiving 149 patients after a recent event, including 16 who were declared dead on arrival.
The Israeli military claimed it was unaware of the specific incident at the Rafah site, while the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation refuted allegations of violence linked to their operations, asserting that they are working to provide aid effectively.
Despite ongoing violence resulting in daily casualties, the Red Cross highlighted that their Rafah hospital activated “mass casualty procedures” 20 times since mid-May due to the severity of the situation.
Israeli military officials defended the necessity of continuing military actions in Gaza, citing the need to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas. Talks for a cease-fire have repeatedly failed, with disagreements primarily centered on the permanence of such an agreement.
Israeli leaders indicated intentions to revise procedures for aid entry into northern Gaza, alleging that Hamas was appropriating humanitarian supplies meant for civilians. The Israeli defense ministry stated that 71 trucks with food and medical supplies entered Gaza recently, following measures to prevent diversion to Hamas.
Despite persistent hunger, there have been indications of slightly increased food availability in Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claims to have distributed over 800,000 boxes of food aid since its operations began, with other organizations also resuming their activities.
The United Nations warned that Gaza remains in a state of catastrophic hunger, with families often resorting to one nutritionally inadequate meal per day due to severe shortages and ongoing conflict.
Testimonies from individuals such as Ahmad Samier Kafina highlight the perilous conditions faced by those seeking food. Despite having experienced gunfire and witnessing dangerous crowd behaviors, they continue to attempt to access essential supplies due to an utter lack of alternatives.