Aid Center Establishment in Gaza: Second Relief Distribution Facility Built
Gaza Humanitarian Aid Distribution Amid Controversies
In the wake of controversies, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has established another distribution center following an incident during its initial aid delivery mission in the Gaza Strip. Eight trucks distributed food aid without any reported incidents, according to the foundation's statement.
However, the UN Human Rights Office reported a contrary account, stating that one person was killed, and 47 others were injured in clashes near the first distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Tuesday. The UN Human Rights spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, stated that the Israeli military was responsible for the shooting. The GHF, however, disputed this account, asserting that no shots were fired at Palestinian crowds at the center, and there were no fatalities. The Israeli army claimed that soldiers had fired warning shots outside the center.
To date, 14,550 food parcels have been distributed at the two operational distribution centers, with each parcel capable of feeding 5.5 people for three and a half days, totaling 840,262 meals. New food supplies have arrived at the first distribution station in Rafah and are set to be distributed there, following initial reports of delays. The foundation plans to set up distribution centers in all four planned locations in the coming weeks.
The situation in the Gaza Strip, home to around two million Palestinians, is worsening due to a months-long Israeli blockade of aid, which has recently been eased slightly. The region faces a severe lack of food, drinking water, medicine, and daily necessities.
The GHF is slated to handle aid distribution in the future, as per the Israeli government's wishes. This strategy aims to bypass aid organizations of the UN and other international helpers, allegedly to prevent Hamas from diverting and reselling supplies for its own purposes to fund fighters and weapons. UN representatives have questioned the lack of evidence supporting Israel's claims.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a momentary loss of control in aid distribution. The intention is to establish a "sterile zone" in southern Gaza for the safety of the entire population. Palestinians fear a new wave of displacement, similar to that during the Israeli founding in 1948 and the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel's actions in the coastal region, where dozens of deaths are reported daily due to Israeli attacks, are facing intense international criticism.
Aid organizations have harshly criticized the distribution mechanism of the GHF. Mustafa Barghouti, the director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) in Ramallah, expressed concern that this "Israeli idea" could weaponize humanitarian need. Riad Othman, Middle East representative of the aid organization Medico International, agreed, stating that humanitarian aid was being instrumentalized for political and military purposes.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated since the Gaza War commenced in October 2023, following the worst massacre in Israel's history. Terrorists from Hamas and other Islamic groups killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted over 250 hostages to the Gaza Strip during an attack on the southern part of the Jewish state. Since then, more than 54,000 Palestinians, an unverifiable number which includes fighters and civilians, have reportedly been killed in Gaza. Today, family members of the hostages still being held in Gaza mark 600 days since their loved ones were taken captive by Hamas. There are currently at least 20 living hostages in Gaza, with the status of three others unknown, according to Israeli reports. Additionally, the remains of 35 abductees are located in the sealed-off territory with numerous underground tunnel networks.
- The escalating crisis in Gaza, with its limited access to essential supplies and ongoing war-and-conflicts, has become a hot topic in general-news discussions, with many criticizing the politics surrounding the distribution of humanitarian aid.
- The UN Human Rights Office and several aid organizations have raised concerns about the politicization of humanitarian aid in Gaza, expressing fears that such actions could turning war-and-conflicts into a tool for political and military purposes.
