United Nations Criticizes Recently Implemented U.S.-Supported Food Aid Distribution System in Gaza
In the heart of the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2025, a US-backed humanitarian aid foundation distributed food packages to displaced Palestinians in western Rafah. The distribution, however, took a chaotic turn, with 47 people sustaining injuries, and at least one death reported.
The United Nations (UN) condemned the aid distribution process on Wednesday, following the incident that erupted at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site. Thousands of Palestinians, desperate for food, rushed into the distribution center, causing a stampede.
Many of the injured were reported to have been shot, with Ajith Sunghay, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories, suggesting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were responsible for the gunfire. The IDF, however, rejected the accusation, asserting that their soldiers merely fired warning shots into the air, not towards the crowd.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza, now at its 600th day, has left the Palestinian population feeling helpless. "Six hundred days have passed, and nothing has changed," said Bassam Daloul, a 40-year-old Palestinian resident. "Death continues, and Israeli bombing does not stop."
Meanwhile, in Israel, relatives of those held hostage in Gaza since October 2023 continue to hope for their safe return. Arbel Yehud, who was freed from Gaza captivity in January, urged caution during peace negotiations, explaining, "Their conditions immediately worsen, food diminishes, pressure increases, and bombings and military actions do not save them, they endanger their lives."
The UN has repeatedly criticized the GHF for failing to uphold humanitarian principles, and Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, reiterated the concern. "It is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities," he stated.
In response to reports of injured Palestinians, the Israeli military noted that they fired warning shots outside the GHF center and not toward the crowd. "In no case did we fire towards the people," Colonel Olivier Rafowicz confirmed to AFP.
Since dawn on May 27, Israeli air strikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals. A Palestinian medical source reported that more than 40 injured people arrived at Nasser Hospital, with at least one fatality. Heba Jabr, a Palestinian mother, spoke of her struggle to find food, stating, "Dying by bombing is much better than dying from the humiliation of hunger and being unable to provide bread and water for your children."
The military offensive in Gaza has continued, with the Israeli military stepping up operations earlier this month. Calls for a ceasefire intensified, particularly from those demanding the release of the remaining hostages still being held in Gaza since the 2023 attack. On May 27, hundreds of protesters in Israel demonstrated, underscoring the ongoing struggle for the hostages' freedom.
- The health condition of the 47 injured Palestinians and the deceased, following the chaotic aid distribution, remains a concern for various international organizations.
- The UN, in its general news section, reported that the ongoing crisis in Gaza has led to a lack of food resources for the Palestinian population, intensifying feelings of helplessness and desperation.
- In contrast to the UN's claims, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that their soldiers only fired warning shots amidst the incident at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site, not targeting the crowd.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of crime and justice, the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza, where relatives of hostages since October 2023 continue to hope for their safe return, raises questions about the effectiveness of peace negotiations and the impact of military actions on their safety.
