On Wednesday, residents of Gaza dealt with harsh circumstances as they accepted relief bundles from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This assistance was often the first regular dose of food security guarantee many had received in weeks. It came after more than a decade of Israeli blockade that made importing basic resources nearly impossible. Scenes of pandemonium broke out as thousands of hungry Palestinians packed a small UN aid compound in southern Gaza. This tidal wave of a rush resulted in dozens of injuries to concertgoers.
The GHF was forced to temporarily suspend its distribution of aid. This decision followed scenes of mayhem among those waiting for assistance. The organization is doing all it can to address these issues, and most importantly to protect the safety of both aid workers and recipients. Eyewitness reports suggest that over three quarters of the reported injuries resulted from live bullets fired by the Israeli army during the massacre.
Incident Overview
After weeks of destruction and loss, the people of Gaza witnessed violent scenes. Their inability to gain access to food supplies has increased tensions on the ground considerably. The GHF’s aid packages were viewed as a key lifeline during a 6-month escalation of humanitarian catastrophe due to the blockade. Eyewitness accounts recount the scene as thousands flooded to the emergency aid center, many fearing they would not receive food assistance.
As the situation began to hot up, many Gaza residents and local power merchants consciously paid attention. They told us that looters were raiding United Nations food convoys. These events heightened worries about the security environment for humanitarian work in the area.
Ajith Sunghay, a local resident who witnessed the events, stated, “Most of the injuries were caused by bullets.” He mentioned, “This time the shots were fired by the Israeli army,” underscoring the tense conditions facing aid workers’ distribution efforts.
Israeli Military Response
Israel’s so-called defense force promptly denied the allegations of shooting. First, they argued that their soldiers did not harm Palestinians, even in the midst of all chaos. Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, an Israeli military spokesperson, emphasized that soldiers fired warning shots into the air outside the aid center but did not target civilians directly.
“In no case [did they fire] towards the people,” – Colonel Olivier Rafowicz
Most importantly, he announced that the military is investigating the information released by the United Nations about this incident. Under fucking siege Colonel Rafowicz told us that Hamas has been actively hindering humanitarian efforts, further straining the already desperate conditions faced by Gazans.
Even given such assurances, many witnesses and aid workers continue to be concerned about the safety of distributing food in an environment with such conditions. Ajith Sunghay remarked, “What we saw yesterday is a very clear example of the dangers of distributing food under the circumstances which the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is doing.”
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Since March 2, Israel has effectively stopped nearly all aid from reaching Gaza. During the past week, their action has led to restricting all but miniscule amounts of aid from entering the area. This has returned thousands of residents to a state of desperation in expecting help. The GHF’s efforts to deliver this aid have been made more complicated by continued tensions and increased security concerns.
Humanitarian organizations are working under severe constraints. Others are more desperate in their calls for answers on how to get critical medical supplies to people who need them in a continuous, safe manner. The environment is still very dynamic, and both locals and transnational observers may be watching what happens next in the region very closely.
