The humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalated dramatically this week as the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced the closure of its aid distribution centers in the besieged enclave. Hours before this decision was made, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces had killed more than two dozen Palestinians, exacerbating already heightened tensions in the region. The GHF cited the need for “updating, organizing, and efficiency improvements” as the reasons for suspending aid operations, which are set to resume on Thursday.
This development follows a string of deadly incidents in which Israeli military actions have reportedly resulted in numerous casualties among civilians attempting to access much-needed assistance. On Tuesday, at least 27 individuals were confirmed dead, with many others injured in the Rafah governorate as they queued for aid. The International Committee of the Red Cross treated 184 casualties at a field hospital in Rafah, with officials confirming that 19 individuals were dead upon arrival and another eight succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter.
An Israeli military spokesperson characterized the areas surrounding the GHF centers as combat zones and warned residents against approaching them. The Israeli military has claimed that its forces opened fire only after perceiving individuals advancing toward them and subsequently deviating from designated access routes. They stated they are conducting an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the GHF has insisted that the reported casualties occurred outside the operational areas of their distribution sites.
These tragic events mark the third such occurrence in just three days, raising significant concern from international observers. With the GHF’s temporary closures and the accompanying violence, humanitarian access in Gaza has come under intense scrutiny. Since the GHF replaced the United Nations as the primary conduit for aid in the region last week, leaders within the enclave indicated that Israeli military actions on Sunday led to the deaths of 31 people amid large crowds seeking aid. Three additional fatalities were reported on Monday under similar circumstances.
The Israeli government contends that it adheres to international law regarding its military engagement in Gaza and asserts that it did not target civilians near humanitarian sites. However, the recurrent instances of violence have spurred calls for investigations from senior figures within the United Nations, including Secretary-General António Guterres and Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk. Guterres labeled the situation as dire, warning that Gaza’s population faces the risk of famine. Türk condemned the violence against civilians trying to collect minimal food supplies as “unconscionable,” noting that hindering food and humanitarian aid could amount to a war crime.
The recent humanitarian model implemented by the GHF requires Gazans to extract themselves from their homes, sometimes navigating great distances on foot to secure boxed meals from distribution hubs that are ostensibly secured by US private security contractors alongside the Israeli military. This restructuring follows a prolonged blockade during which Israel withheld deliveries of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medicines for over two months. Recently, a partial resumption of aid facilitated by UN operations coincided with the introduction of the GHF-led distribution scheme. Israeli authorities maintain that this new system aims to prevent aid from falling into the hands of Hamas, the militant group blamed for sparking this ongoing conflict following its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Despite Israel’s assurances regarding the integrity of the aid distribution, the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have criticized the operational model. They argue that no significant diversion of aid has been substantiated and suggest that Israel’s strategy may be a tactic to compel and displace civilians further south within Gaza. Presently, the GHF has established four distribution hubs, yet operations at only one site have been functional for the past five days.
Adding to the turmoil surrounding GHF, the organization faced a significant blow last week with the resignation of its executive director, Jake Wood. He expressed that the complexities of implementing a comprehensive aid model seemed incompatible with maintaining humanitarian principles centered on impartiality and neutrality. In response to these challenges, GHF announced the appointment of Johnnie Moore, a US businessman and evangelical leader, as its new executive chair.
As the situation unfolds, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains critical. The need for immediate and safe access to essential resources is more urgent than ever, as international monitors call for a reevaluation of the methodologies being used to deliver aid to the beleaguered population. With ongoing military actions and structural challenges facing humanitarian efforts, the road ahead for both aid organizations and the affected civilians in Gaza remains fraught with difficulty and uncertainty.