Aid Centers Shut Down Temporarily: Israel Declares Surrounding Areas "Flare-Up Zones" During Maintenance
Israel designates renovation zones as combat areas for operational purposes.
After a series of unfortunate incidents surrounding aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, all centers will be closed for today. The Israeli army and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which handles food distribution, made the announcement on various platforms late last night. The centers are shut down for "maintenance, operational, and efficiency enhancement work," a military spokesperson said, citing the GHF.
The spokesperson advised Gaza residents to stay away from areas leading to the distribution centers, as the surroundings are designated as "flare-up zones." "Under no circumstances are the zones of the distribution centers to be entered!" The centers are expected to reopen on Thursday.
The GHF began distributing aid via these centers approximately a week ago. Following almost three months of blockade, Israel permitted limited aid deliveries to the hungry population.
Sadly, on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers reportedly attacked groups near a distribution center in the southern city of Rafah. At least 27 Palestinians were killed, and around 90 were injured. This marks the third lethal incident near a GHF distribution center within a three-day span.
Following Tuesday's incident, the director of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told BBC that wounded individuals with gunshot wounds were admitted after Israeli troops fired upon "masses of civilians waiting for aid in the west of Rafah." A medical worker from a foreign organization in the region described the scene as a "potential catastrophe" and added that aid workers were swamped with victims. UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanded an "immediate and independent" probe into the incidents.
According to the Israeli army, soldiers spotted suspicious actors approaching them about half a kilometer from the distribution point and posing a threat to them. Soldiers initially fired warning shots. Since the suspects did not retreat, they targeted the individuals. an Israeli tactic to provide aid bypassing UN organizations and other initiatives. The UN has criticized this, accusing Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid.
Insight: The temporary closure of aid centers in Gaza is due to both logistical needs and security concerns, with the GHF carrying out necessary maintenance and implementing stricter security measures to ensure safer interactions. However, the ongoing incidents escalate tensions in the region, leading to calls for improved safety measures by international organizations and condemnation by the Palestinian community.
- Israel
- Gaza
- Palestinians
- Gaza Strip
- The European Union and its Member States, along with various international organizations, have expressed concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts in Gaza, particularly following the series of deadly incidents around aid distribution centers.
- Amid the increased violence and general-news headlines, the issue of crime-and-justice has emerged, as questionable tactics by the Israeli army, such as allegations of weaponizing humanitarian aid, have sparked heated politics discussions at global levels.
