Unauthorized Access and Tragic Incident at United Nations Warehouse in Gaza, Resulting in Severe Shortage of Aid Supply
United Nations Warehouse in Gaza Raided as International Pressure Builds Over Aid Delivery
Cairo/Jerusalem/New York - A United Nations warehouse in Gaza was raided by large crowds seeking food aid on May 28, as the Palestinian enclave teeters on the brink of famine and the United States prepares to present new terms for a potential truce between Israel and Hamas.
The World Food Programme reported that initial estimates suggested two people had died and several more were injured during the raid at the central Gaza warehouse. The UN agency called for an urgent scaling up of food aid to assuage fears that residents will starve.
Eyewitness video, independently verified by Reuters, showed hundreds of people rushing into the warehouse, stealing bags and boxes while gunfire was heard in the background. It remained unclear how the casualties occurred.
Since Israel lifted an 11-week-long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days prior, it has permitted only limited relief to enter through two channels: the United Nations or the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag informed the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had allowed the UN to deliver was "comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk," considering the risk of famine faced by everyone in Gaza.
The United States has been attempting to broker a ceasefire, with Israel resuming military operations in Gaza in March after a brief truce, leading to the death of at least 30 individuals, according to Palestinian health officials, on May 28.
"We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later today," US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated on May 28. "The President is going to review it."
The conflict in Gaza started on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants affiliated with Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 250 hostages, as reported by Israeli authorities. To date, Israel's military campaign has led to the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
UN vs GHF
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on May 28 that Israel's killing of Hamas' Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, marked a move towards the "complete defeat of Hamas," adding that Israel was "taking control of food distribution" in Gaza.
Israel has accused Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies, while Hamas has denied taking aid.
At the United Nations, more than half the Security Council urged action on Gaza on May 28, with some members working on a draft resolution to demand unimpeded aid access. Slovenia's UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told the council, "Remaining silent is not an option."
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon informed the Security Council that Israel would allow aid deliveries via both the UN and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began aid deliveries on May 26. However, Israel ultimately aims for the UN to work through the GHF, using private US security and logistics companies for aid transportation and distribution at designated secure sites.
The UN and other international aid groups have refused to collaborate with the GHF because they claim the plan is not impartial. Jonathan Whittall, a senior UN aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, stated, "This new scheme is surveillance-based rationing that legitimizes a policy of deprivation by design."
Warnings and Violence
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told Reuters it was "sad and disgusting" that the UN and other organizations would not work with the GHF, describing the foundation's aid distribution as "effective so far."
On May 27, the Israeli military reported firing warning shots near a GHF distribution site, where people rushing for aid briefly breached security. Footage shared on social media showed damaged fences and private security contractors retreating before regaining control.
"I am a big man, but I couldn't hold back my tears when I saw the images of women, men, and children racing for some food," said Rabah Rezik, a 65-year-old father of seven from Gaza City.
The United Nations human rights office reported that 47 people were injured on May 27 while seeking aid from the GHF, citing information from partners on the ground. The GHF maintained that no one was hurt at the distribution site.
The foundation stated that aid distribution continued without incident on May 28, opening a second distribution hub. To date, it has provided the equivalent of 840,262 meals. The GHF intends to open four sites and expand operations in Gaza in the coming weeks.
The United Nations reported that since aid deliveries resumed last week, Israel had approved roughly 800 truckloads of relief. Yet, fewer than 500 truckloads had reached the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, limiting the collection of just over 200 of them due to insecurity and restricted access.
Israel is under pressure over Gaza's dire humanitarian situation, with France, Britain, Canada, Germany, and Italy expressing concerns and stating they may take action if the military campaign persists.
Despite the ongoing international pressure for aid delivery in Gaza, there has been a significant spike in incidents, including 'general-news' events such as the raid on a UN warehouse, 'car-accidents' due to chaotic scenes at aid distribution sites, and 'fires' resulting from these incidents. Meanwhile, 'politics' surrounding the issue are complex, with the UN and aid groups refusing to collaborate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), while Israel aims for the UN to work through the GHF. This has led to heated debates within the United Nations, with some members drafting a resolution to demand unimpeded aid access. Moreover, 'crime-and-justice' issues persist in the region, as Israel continues to accuse Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies, while Hamas denies these allegations.
