The Gaza Health Ministry reports a deadly Israeli military operation near food distribution sites, compounding the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by recent aid distribution changes.
**Escalating Violence in Southern Gaza Amidst New Aid Distribution System**
**Escalating Violence in Southern Gaza Amidst New Aid Distribution System**
Recent clashes in Gaza leave 32 dead as Israeli military actions raise questions about new humanitarian protocols.
The Gaza Health Authorities reported that at least 32 individuals were killed by Israeli military forces in southern Gaza on Saturday, coinciding with claims from Palestinian media that Israeli troops were firing near food distribution centers. The Israeli military has indicated that it is examining these claims, as has the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization endorsed by Israel that oversees food distribution. The Nasser Medical Complex, a major hospital in southern Gaza, announced it had received 29 bodies linked to these aid sites but did not clarify the circumstances of their deaths or the locations from which the bodies originated.
This incident reignites concerns surrounding a controversial food distribution initiative in Gaza, implemented by Israel nearly two months ago. The United Nations reported this week that over 670 Palestinians have died near the newly established distribution centers since the program’s launch. The system, instituted in late May, allows the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a group influenced by Israeli officials and business leaders, to distribute food from a limited number of locations under Israeli supervision. This effort replaces a former United Nations-led initiative that provided food from numerous sites, primarily in areas controlled by Hamas.
Israeli authorities assert that this new approach is essential to prevent Hamas from hoarding and profiting from food supplies, yet critics argue it has effectively turned the search for sustenance into a perilous daily endeavor, frequently placing vulnerable civilians within gunfire range of Israeli soldiers. Reports indicate that Israeli troops have regularly fired upon crowds of Palestinians approaching aid points, leading to fatalities that appear to be part of a stringent crowd management strategy.
Officials have acknowledged that gunfire has occurred around these aid sites, although they also contend that figures concerning fatalities may be exaggerated. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claims that violence at distribution sites is infrequent and accuses Hamas of inciting disturbances and assaulting workers involved in these initiatives.
Despite these changes, humanitarian organizations assert that the new system has not alleviated the widespread hunger that surged following Israel's 80-day blockade on food and fuel between March and May. This week, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported screening over 10,600 children in Gaza during late June, finding that more than 900, or nearly 10% of those screened, were suffering from malnutrition.
Ameera Harouda contributed to this report. Patrick Kingsley serves as The Times’s bureau chief in Jerusalem, overseeing coverage of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
