Protests Staged at UN Food Storehouse in Gaza - Tragic Loss Lives in Storm Affecting UN Food Storage in Gaza
Gaza Crisis deepens as Two Die in UN Food Warehouse Rush
The humanitarian crisis in the highly contested Gaza Strip continues to worsen, with two fatalities reported in a violent rush to access aid at a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse. The incident took place in the heart of the blockaded coastal region, according to UN reports.
A large crowd, desperate for food supplies, stormed the central warehouse, breaking through metal barriers and causing heavy congestion, particularly at the main gate. Some witnesses accounts mention people forcibly tearing down parts of the walls to gain entry. Amateur videos circulating on social media depicted numerous people looting the warehouse, yelling, and creating chaos.
Medical sources at Al-Aksa Hospital in Deir al-Balah stated that two individuals were crushed to death, and two others were shot dead during the melee.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), embroiled in controversy, denied responsibility for the tragedy at their distribution centers. They acknowledged no fatalities had occurred at any GHF location, stating any reports of chaos and unrest were false and originated from Hamas. The Israeli government, currently engaged in a military confrontation against the Palestinian terror group, is accused of diverting and selling previous aid deliveries to fund weapons and fighters, although Israel has not provided evidence to support these claims.
Local distribution centers have been a prime target for those in need, grappling with the months-long Israeli blockade. The blockade has progressively left the coastal strip's inhabitants lacking food, water, medicine, and other basic necessities. In recent days, cases of looting and the storming of a new distribution center run by the GHF have been reported.
According to the GHF, 14,550 food packages have been distributed at the two opened distribution centers so far, with further distribution planned to expand to four locations in the coming weeks.
Tensions between the UN and Israel escalated as the UN Emergency Relief Office criticized the Israeli government's plan to bypass international aid organizations and have the GHF take charge of aid distribution, deeming it a "militarized distribution system" that endangers people and fails to meet their needs. The UN called the Israeli authorities' undermining of aid delivery teams "unprincipled" and expressed that their participation in projects that jeopardize neutrality, impartiality, or independence is unacceptable.
Israel's UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, retaliated by accusing the UN of engaging in "blackmail and threats" against humanitarian organizations cooperating with the GHF. He argued this was a clear violation of the UN's basic principles.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN characterizing it as "as bleak as it has ever been." Thestruggle of the nearly two million inhabitants in the densely populated coastal region has worsened significantly since October 2023, when the onset of the Gaza conflict began.
The civilian population in Gaza has lost faith in a better future, with UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag stating before the UN Security Council that instead of saying "goodbye," Palestinians in Gaza now say "see you in heaven." A report by the "War Child Alliance" highlighted that every second child in Gaza is at risk of suicide, further aggravating the critical state of the region.
The conflict began with a terrorist attack by Hamas and other Islamic groups on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people in October 2023 and resulted in more than 54,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The fate of the Kidnapped hostages held by Hamas remains uncertain, with approximately 20 still in captivity, according to Israeli sources.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv in the evening, calling for an end to the still ongoing conflict and the immediate release of the captives. Families of the hostages emphasized that their beloved ones have been held captive for 600 days, praying for their safe return. Altercations between protesters and police preceded the rally, resulting in the arrest of 62 individuals for occupying the headquarters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and blocking the streets in front of it. Two police officers were injured in the clashes.
- The UN has expressed concern over the Israeli government's proposal to divert aid distribution from international organizations to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, asserting it threatens the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence in humanitarian work.
- As the Gaza crisis deepens, health and wellness concerns, including medical conditions, are exacerbated, with every second child in Gaza reportedly at risk of suicide, according to a War Child Alliance report.
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza has raised questions about the community policy and employment policy regarding aid distribution, with the UN Emergency Relief Office criticizing the proposed militarized distribution system as endangering people and failing to meet their needs.
