Aid centers in hunger-stricken Gaza will temporarily close on Wednesday, according to a controversial US-backed agency. The Israeli army warned that roads leading to distribution stations “are considered combat zones.” This announcement follows a tragic incident where twenty-seven people died in southern Gaza on Tuesday. Israeli troops opened fire near one of the centers operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Israel recently eased its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. However, the United Nations has stated that the entire population remains at risk of famine. The UN Security Council will vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza. This measure is expected to face a veto from the United States.
The GHF announced that its “distribution centers will be closed for renovation, reorganisation, and efficiency improvement work” on Wednesday. They plan to resume operations on Thursday. The Israeli army confirmed the temporary closure and warned against travelling on roads leading to the distribution centers.
Controversy Surrounding GHF Operations
The GHF, which began operations a week ago, has faced criticism from the UN and major aid groups. They have refused to cooperate with the GHF due to concerns that it serves Israeli military objectives. Following Tuesday’s deadly incident, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Palestinians seeking food aid as “unacceptable.”
Israeli authorities and the GHF, which employs contracted US security, denied allegations that the Israeli army shot at civilians, stating that the incident is under investigation.
The Israeli military insists that its forces do not prevent Gazans from collecting aid. Army spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that soldiers fired at suspects who “were approaching in a way that endangered” the troops. He confirmed that the “incident is being investigated.”
International Response to Civilian Casualties
UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned such attacks against civilians as “unconscionable.” He stated that they “constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.” The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that Gazans face an “unprecedented scale and frequency of recent mass casualty incidents.”
The United States acknowledged that a US-backed relief effort in Gaza has succeeded in distributing meals. However, they also recognized the need for improvement following reports of shootings near the GHF center. Meanwhile, a boat organized by an international activist coalition is sailing toward Gaza to deliver aid.
Israel has intensified its offensive, claiming it aims to defeat the Palestinian group Hamas, with health ministry in Gaza reported that at least 4,240 people have died since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, bringing the war’s overall toll to 54,510, mostly civilians.
