Jerusalem
CNN —
International Pressures Mount on Israel Over Gaza Aid
Israel is encountering increasing global scrutiny as the distribution of aid in Gaza has fallen into disarray under a newly implemented system backed by the U.S. and Israel.
The Palestinian health ministry has reported that 11 individuals have died and many more have suffered injuries as large crowds of desperate people gathered at distribution points in southern Gaza since they opened earlier this week.
Despite this, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which oversees the distribution sites, claimed that there were no casualties during the aid distribution.
Food Scarcity Drives Desperate Crowds
Tens of thousands of Palestinians, facing the threat of famine after an 11-week blockade by Israel, flooded both GHF sites and a warehouse managed by the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), grabbing food supplies amid scenes of desperation and widespread looting.
The newly introduced aid mechanism coincides with increasing criticism from some of Israel’s close allies regarding its actions in Gaza, with explicit warnings of possible repercussions if military actions and restrictions on aid continue.
Criticism from European Leaders
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, remarked that “Israel’s strikes in Gaza exceed what is needed to combat Hamas,” while voicing disapproval of the GHF-led aid distribution, suggesting that the EU does not endorse “any form of privatization in humanitarian aid distribution.”
Recent statements from German officials, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have also raised concerns, as he implored the Israeli government not to take actions that its strongest supporters could no longer condone.
Last week, leaders from the UK, France, and Canada indicated they might take “concrete actions,” including targeted sanctions, unless Israel ceases its military campaign and allows aid to flow into Gaza.
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Despite warnings from its allies, the plight of starving Palestinians continues, with GHF striving to establish itself as the primary aid provider in the region.
A massive crowd overwhelmed the first GHF distribution site in southern Gaza, leading to chaos as people ripped down fencing. The GHF stated that its private contractors had to step back to allow a few individuals to safely collect aid.
Violence and Disorder Erupt
According to WFP, a surge of desperate individuals stormed a UN warehouse searching for sustenance, with reports of gunfire heard during the chaos—initial accounts indicate two fatalities and multiple injuries.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was labeled by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as “at its darkest point yet,” condemning the new distribution framework as one that “puts people at risk” and fails to meet essential needs.
Concurrently Operating Aid Mechanisms
Currently, both the GHF and the established UN distribution systems operate side by side, but aid inflow into Gaza remains limited, particularly in the northern regions which receive minimal assistance.
Public Discontent and Skepticism
Videos captured the looting of a market in Zeitoun, highlighting the dire situation in areas where aid is critically low. On Thursday, GHF aimed to distribute food at several sites, striving to meet its goal of feeding 1.2 million people by month’s end, yet doubts about the feasibility of these claims persist among UN officials.
Omar Abd Rabbo, a Gaza resident who visited a GHF site, described a chaotic scene filled with individuals battling for food, reflecting the extent of suffering and hunger plaguing the population. However, many left empty-handed, and witnesses reported the use of stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
