ISTANBUL
A controversial Israeli-backed food distribution program in Gaza has triggered deadly chaos, leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured as desperate Palestinians clash at overcrowded aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The GHF is an American organization backed by Israel. Israel cut off supplies to Gaza in March, and the group started operating in Gaza in late May, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs, but has been criticized by Palestinians and international groups for the high numbers of casualties linked to its operations.
Last Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians gathered at a GHF distribution site near Khan Younis. As the gate opened, the crowd surged forward. American security contractors failed to control the mass of starving civilians, many of whom broke through barricades to grab whatever food they could. Within 15 minutes, all supplies were gone. Gunshots rang out, though the source was unclear.
The WSJ report said that a firsthand observation -- from when it kicked off to when it was overrun -- showed “some reasons why the setup has been so beset with problems.”
GHF depends on the nearby presence of Israeli troops for security and the protection of its staff. This often puts desperate Palestinian crowds in direct contact with soldiers -- a contrast to UN distribution sites, which typically operate without an Israeli military presence, the report noted.
The demand for food is also much greater than what GHF can provide, leading to huge crowds and fierce competition over the limited supplies, it said.
Last Wednesday, at least 20 people were killed in a crush at the site, according to health authorities and GHF.
The WSJ report said that Ahmad Tareq al-Dahoudi, a Palestinian who was seeking food, said: “I couldn’t breathe from the smell. ... I didn’t get anything and ran away. There were lots of children, women and elderly people. I saw about 15 dead bodies.”
According to local health authorities, since the program began, hundreds of people have died and hundreds more have been wounded trying to access food at GHF’s four sites. The Israeli army acknowledged opening fire on crowds that come too close to its troops.
The report added that Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general who once was the head of Israel’s Gaza division, said: “The area is not stable, it’s under chaos. The threat of starvation under those conditions is so severe that there’s no way you can create a stable system in unstable surroundings.”
Speaking to WSJ, Israeli soldiers admitted to using rifles, machine guns, and even artillery when Palestinian crowds strayed from designated routes to GHF aid sites or attempted to take shortcuts. They said shots were fired around gatherings to deter them, as well as at times directly at anyone who move in their direction.
The Israeli military said it tries to avoid using gunfire and reviews every incident to minimize harm. While some officials acknowledged that troops have caused fatalities, claiming Palestinian-reported death tolls are exaggerated.
One Israeli reservist recalled an incident in mid-June where Israeli soldiers fired at Gazans carrying white flags who had left the approved route. “We have an unwritten rule that if you are worried and they get too close and you see that it could be something that puts you and your team at risk, you don’t take that risk,” he was quoted as saying.
He further said that despite issuing warnings, the crowd kept coming closer and when they crossed what soldiers considered “a red line,” shots were fired. He noted that soldiers are instructed to fire warning shots into the air or aim for people’s knees, but that mistakes happen.
GHF says its food boxes include items like flour, pasta, sugar, rice, cooking oil, beans, tuna, tea, cookies, and potatoes, while Palestinians say the contents vary daily and often lack essential nutrients like animal protein, it noted.
The UN and private organizations had already collected food, which was then mostly distributed by the UN at roughly 400 locations throughout Gaza's population centers. Though far less than previously, the UN still brings in some food.
Israel announced plans to increase the number of distribution sites but has not specified when or where.
GHF currently runs four sites, which are not always open, and people often do not know which ones have food available. While organizers use fences and gates to try to manage the crowds, distribution is usually chaotic and supplies run out fast, sparking scuffles, the report added.
Israel has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The military onslaught has destroyed the enclave, and led to food shortages and the spread of diseases.
Several Palestinians have been killed in recent days while attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid at sites associated with the GHF.
