IDF Designates Gaza Aid Routes as Combat Zones, Centers Close Temporarily

With humanitarian needs soaring in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces have classified roads leading to aid centers as combat zones, resulting in temporary closures of distribution sites. Amid ongoing violence, the controversial GHF network aims to replace traditional aid systems, prompting international scrutiny regarding its effectiveness and adherence to humanitarian principles.

Aid distribution centers in Gaza will cease operations for a day on Wednesday, as the Israeli military has declared the routes to these sites "combat zones." The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israel-supported aid organization that started its operations last week, cited the need for "update, organization and efficiency improvements" as the reason for the closures.

According to a recent announcement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), access to the distribution centers is restricted, and individuals traveling on roads leading to these facilities are prohibited. Tuesday night witnessed a sharp escalation in violence, with reports indicating that at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near one of the distribution centers, as per the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency. The IDF stated shots were fired at suspects allegedly deviating from designated access routes, marking the third such fatal incident in just days.

GHF plans to resume aid distribution on Thursday amid ongoing humanitarian crises that have exacerbated food, water, and supply shortages for Palestinians. This controversial replacement for the UN-led aid distribution system has drawn criticism from various humanitarian organizations, who assert that it failed to prevent aid hijacking by Hamas, a claim the UN denies.

The new distribution model requires Gazans to travel considerable distances to limited centers under Israeli control, often needing to transport heavy boxes home. Critics note that this system undermines equal access to essential resources. In related developments, Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore, a prominent evangelical pastor and supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been announced as GHF's new head, succeeding Jake Wood, a former US marine who resigned amidst criticisms of the aid structure.

Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, initiated in the wake of a cross-border assault by Hamas on October 7, 2023 – which claimed around 1,200 lives and resulted in 251 hostages – continue to escalate. The Gaza health ministry reports that the death toll has skyrocketed to at least 54,470 since the conflict began, including 4,201 fatalities since the IDF resumed its offensive on March 18. The situation remains fluid as humanitarian organizations decry the risks associated with Israel's revised aid distribution strategy.