Gaza: Israel distributes food and relief supplies – to the delight of many

The distribution of relief goods in the contested Gaza Strip by a new foundation should continue despite the initial tumult. This was announced by the Gaza Humanitrian Foundation (GHF) after reporting on the storming of a new distribution center in the south of the coastal strip and looting – according to Palestinian information, there are said to have been several dead and dozens of injuries. According to the foundation, trucks with other relief goods are said to drive in the Gaza Strip today that delivery quantities are larger every day.

After the opening of the GHF Center in the south of the densely populated area-a total of four centers are planned-according to Israeli media reports and eyewitnesses, there were chaotic scenes. The Israeli army said that soldiers had given warning shots outside the center. The situation was brought back under control. It was not shot out of the air. The Israeli army has rejected the accusation that it opened the fire in Palestinian civilians. The shots were “in no way against people”.

Israeli media had initially reported that US wax people had made warning shots that people had broken out in panic. Palestinian rescue workers later reported that three people were killed by shots by the Israeli army and dozens were injured.

The foundation announced that in view of the large rush at the distribution center in Rafah, the GHF team had withdrawn selectively “to allow a small number of Gaza residents to take relief goods in a safe way and to disperse again”. The team adhered to the security protocol to prevent victims. The normal work was then resumed.

In view of a month -long blockade of relief goods by Israel, which had recently been relaxed, the desperate location of many people has worsened again in the contested coastal strip. In the area populated by around two million Palestinians, which is largely destroyed, there is a lack of food, drinking water, medication and almost all things in everyday needs.

According to the will of the Israeli government, the GHF should in future be responsible for the distribution of the relief goods. So far, around 8,000 food packages have been distributed, the foundation said on Tuesday. Each package can feed about five to six people for three and a half days. A total of 462,000 meals. However, due to disabilities by the Islamist Hamas, there were several hours of delay in delivery.

After the incident, the Hamas media office announced that the mechanism initiated by Israel to distribute relief goods was a “total failure”. The Interior Ministry controlled by the terrorist organization had previously called up the residents of the Gaza Strip to boycott the new distribution mechanism.

With the distribution strategy supported by the United States, the Israeli government claims to prevent Hamas from branching and resold deliveries for its own purposes, in order to then pay fighters and weapons. UN representatives say that Israel has not submitted any evidence of this.

The four GHF distribution centers in the south and in the center of the Gaza Strip are to be operated by US security companies. Israel wants to deal with the UN and other international helpers so aid organizations.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Tuesday evening of a “current loss of control” in the distribution of the relief goods. “We brought it back under control,” he said in a speech. Further centers will be opened.

“The idea is basically to take the looting of humanitarian aid as a war instrument and to give it to the population,” said Netanyahu. The aim is to “have a sterile zone in the south of Gazas in which the entire population can move to their own protection”.

Many Palestinians fear a new wave of flight and displacement from the Gaza Strip, similar to during the war in the course of the foundation of Israeli in 1948 and during the 1967 Six Day War. On Israel’s approach in the coastal area, where dozens of deaths are reported as a result of Israeli attacks.

The US government welcomed the newly launched distribution of relief goods in the Gaza Strip-and at the same time went at a distance to the foundation behind it. The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Tammy Bruce, emphasized that the GHF does not speak for the GHF. Criticism of the United Nations and international aid organizations that the foundation is not independent and acted “regrettable” in the interests of Israel. It is “the height of the hypocrisy” to complain about who brings the help or how it is organized.

Shortly before starting the help, GHF chairman Jake Woods-a US military veteran-resigned. According to reports, he did not consider it possible to implement the plan developed under his leadership and at the same time maintain “the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence”.

The emergency in the coastal area has drastically intensified in the course of the Gaza War since October 2023. The war was triggered by the worst massacre in the history of Israel: Terrorists of the Hamas and other Islamist groups kill around 1200 people in a robbery in the south of the Jewish state and dragged more than 250 into the Gaza Strip as hostages. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 54,000 Palestinians in Gaza were then killed in the war. The number of people, which is barely checked, summarizes fighters and civilians.

The relatives of the Israeli hostages that are still captured in Gaza are reminiscent of this Wednesday that their loved ones have been in Hamas’ violence for 600 days. According to Israeli information, there are currently at least 20 living hostages in the Gaza Strip. With three other kidnapped people, it is unclear whether they are still alive. In addition, the remains of 35 abducted areas are located in the sealed area with countless underground tunnel systems.