Gaza Aid Centers Shutdown: Israeli Army Declares Distribution Zones "War Zones" During Upgrades
Israel designates renovation areas as "battle zones"
After a series of tragic incidents, all aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip have halted operations today. The Israeli army and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced the closure on various platforms late last night. The centers are shut down for renovations, organization, and efficiency improvements, according to a military spokesperson, quoting the GHF.
Residents of Gaza are warned to steer clear of areas leading to the distribution centers, as they have been declared "combat zones." The facilities are estimated to reopen on Thursday.
Behind the Scenes Three Days of Carnage Around Aid Distribution Centers The aid centers, managed by the GHF, started distributing relief supplies about a week ago. Following a nearly three-month blockade, Israel authorized limited aid deliveries to the besieged population.
According to reports, Israeli soldiers opened fire near a distribution center once more on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians and injuries to nearly 90. This marks the third fatal incident near a GHF distribution center in just three days.
Wounded civilians with gunshot wounds were rushed to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis following Tuesday's incident, according to its director, who spoke to the BBC. The director described the scene as a "grisly massacre." A health worker in the region echoed similar sentiments, describing the volume of victims as overwhelming for aid workers. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate, unbiased investigation into the incidents.
Big Picture Greta Thunberg-Led Activist Group Sails for Gaza with Humanitarian Aid The Israeli army maintains that soldiers encountered suspects approaching them approximately half a kilometer from the distribution point and constituting a threat. Initially, soldiers fired warning shots. When the suspects failed to retreat, they targeted individual suspects.
Israel allows the GHF to deliver aid in the Gaza Strip to bypass United Nations humanitarian organizations and other initiatives. The UN has voiced criticism of this practice, accusing Israel of exploiting humanitarian aid as a weapon.
Source: ntv.de, toh/dpa
- Israel
- Gaza
- Palestinians
- Gaza Strip
(Enrichment data suggests that the escalating military operations in the Gaza Strip since March 18, 2025, may have led to areas being designated as combat zones due to the active conflict environment.)
The European Union and its Member States, concerned about the recent escalation of war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip, have called for an urgent meeting with the Israelis to address the politically volatile situation. In the context of general-news and crime-and-justice, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for an immediate, unbiased investigation into the deadly incidents surrounding aid distribution centers in Gaza, while Greta Thunberg-led activist groups prepare to sail towards Gaza with humanitarian aid.
