Israeli forces opened fire near a crowded food distribution centre in Gaza, which lost control during its second day of operations, according to reports from The Guardian. The centre, operated by a logistics team appointed by Israel, struggled to manage the massive influx of hungry Palestinians desperate for aid.
After enduring an 11-week siege and a stringent blockade, many Gazans face severe starvation. On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands attempted to cross Israeli military lines to access the newly established distribution centre in Rafah. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), responsible for managing the aid, became overwhelmed to the point where staff were forced to withdraw temporarily to ensure safety.
"At one moment in the late afternoon, the volume of people at the secure distribution centre was such that the GHF team fell back to allow a small number of Palestinians in Gaza to take aid safely and dissipate," the foundation stated.
At least three Palestinians were reported injured during the incident, including one with a leg wound requiring medical attention. The Israeli military described their response as "warning shots" intended to restore order, although it remains uncertain if anyone was harmed in the process of obtaining food.
In a speech on Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged a brief "loss of control" during the distribution but asserted that order was promptly restored.
This situation underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to essential resources remains critically limited amidst ongoing conflict and blockade restrictions.
