Chaotic Scenes at Food Distribution Centers in Gaza According to Eyewitness Accounts
Unrest at Gaza Food Distribution Sites Amid Humanitarian Crisis
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Tensions escalated on Thursday as tens of thousands of desperately hungry Palestinians in the Gaza Strip rushed distribution centers run by the new U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Witnesses reported chaos and objects being grabbed indiscriminately, with Israeli troops allegedly using gunfire to control the crowds.
In central Gaza, Associated Press footage showed smoke bombs being launched through the air near a distribution center, and gunfire could be heard as Israeli tanks moved nearby. Witnesses claimed it was Israeli soldiers who fired projectiles to disperse throngs of Palestinians when supplies ran out at the center on Thursday.
Mahmoud Ismael, a local man on crutches and injured in an earlier incident, traveled miles to reach the center but returned empty-handed. He stated, "My house has no food, and I can't obtain food for my children."
Since March 2, 2025, Israel has prevented the entry of food, fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies, leading to a sharp increase in hunger, malnutrition, and starvation among Gaza's 2.3 million residents [2]. Nearly half a million people are in catastrophic conditions of hunger, and the World Health Organization and other agencies warn that famine could soon be declared, as 75% of Gaza’s population is at the most severe levels of food deprivation [2].
In an attempt to address this, Israel announced a new plan on May 5, 2025, to ensure aid delivery without empowering Hamas [1]. As part of this plan, the GHF began operations on May 28, 2025, by setting up food distribution hubs and delivering thousands of food boxes directly, bypassing traditional international organizations like the United Nations [1][4]. However, the distribution process has been marked by chaos and confusion, causing criticism and concerns.
Witnesses at one distribution site near Rafah reported pushing and shoving among the crowd, with armed contractors and Israeli troops observed nearby [4]. At other sites, locals described disorganized distribution, with people taking Cart loads of flour bags and multiple aid boxes, and theft by organized gangs reselling goods at elevated prices.
A statement from GHF on Thursday denied reports of gunfire at distribution centers over the past three days, stating that any reports of casualties came from Hamas [4]. The foundation claimed it had distributed over 32,200 food boxes since May 28 but faces criticism from the United Nations and other established aid organizations, who question its effectiveness and independence [4].
According to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Israeli authorities did not permit U.N. trucks to move to the border to retrieve incoming supplies from May 25 to May 27 [5]. As people waited to receive desperately needed aid, some panicked and fled, leading to gunfire from Israeli troops, further exacerbating tensions.
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip remains severe, and the new aid delivery system's focus on military control and bypassing traditional actors has generated international debate. The GHF claims it aims to provide food to civilians while preventing aid from reaching Hamas, but ongoing challenges and criticism threaten the plan's success.
References:[1] Palestinian new aid system faces criticism, AP News, May 28, 2025.[2] Gaza Humanitarian Crisis, World Health Organization, accessed on May 29, 2025.[3] Swiss Government critical of new humanitarian aid group, MEMO, May 27, 2025.[4] U.N. Voices Concern Over Aid Distribution System In Gaza, NPR, May 28, 2025.[5] Humanitarian Crisis Worsens In Gaza As Deaths Start To Mount, The Guardian, May 28, 2025.
- In the midst of political debates and general news discussions, the weather in Seattle took a backseat on Thursday as the escalating crisis in the Gaza Strip dominated headlines.
- Amidst the political turmoil and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, sports stories and local crime-and-justice updates were put on hold, with the international community monitoring the situation closely.
- Despite the unfolding chaos and unrest in Gaza, palm trees swayed peacefully in Seattle's parks, boats bobbed gently in the sound, and life continued somewhat normally, displaying a stark contrast to the dire events happening thousands of miles away.
