Rafah, Gaza – Chaos erupted on Tuesday at an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza, as hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians broke through fences in an attempt to secure food supplies. The incident occurred on the second day of operations for a new US-backed group attempting to deliver aid in the besieged territory.
The Israeli military confirmed that its troops fired warning shots outside the centre, stating that “control over the situation was established.” At least three Palestinians were reportedly injured during the frantic scramble.
The distribution hub, located outside Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, had only opened the day before. It is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organisation slated by Israel to take over aid operations despite opposition from the United Nations and other major humanitarian bodies.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic and desperation. Ahmed Abu Taha, one of those seeking aid, recounted how crowds stormed the centre, breaking down fences. He reported hearing gunfire and seeing Israeli military aircraft overhead, describing the situation as “chaos” where “people were panicked.” Another Palestinian, Saleh Abu Najjar, heard tank fire from a distance.
An Associated Press journalist, positioned nearby, also reported hearing gunfire and rounds of tank fire in the afternoon, with smoke visible from one impact. A military helicopter was seen overhead firing flares, and crowds were observed fleeing the site. While a few individuals managed to secure aid boxes containing basic items like sugar, flour, pasta, and tehini, the vast majority left empty-handed.
GHF stated that due to the overwhelming number of people, staff temporarily withdrew, following safety protocols to “avoiding loss of life.” They later resumed operations. A spokesperson for the GHF, speaking anonymously, confirmed that no shots were fired by their personnel, who include armed private contractors for security.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached crisis levels after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade, pushing the enclave to the brink of famine. The GHF hub is located near Israeli military positions in the Morag Corridor, a strategic strip of territory dividing Rafah from the rest of Gaza.
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