Aid group halts food deliveries in Gaza after shootings near distribution sites

Published on 04/06/2025 - 15:34 GMT+2

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has paused nutrient transportation successful nan Strip connected Wednesday aft reports claimed dozens of Palestinians were killed successful a series of shootings adjacent their 3 distribution sites. 

The US and Israel-backed assistance distribution group stated that it was successful discussions pinch nan Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to heighten information measures, including methods to negociate civilian beingness adjacent assistance hubs and amended subject training protocols.  

The region successful assistance comes aft Israeli forces acknowledged opening occurrence adjacent a GHF assistance distribution tract successful Rafah, a confederate Gazan metropolis now mostly quiet and declared a subject zone.  

At slightest 27 group were killed connected Tuesday, according to nan Red Cross and nan UN. The IDF denied firing connected civilians, stating it changeable adjacent group they described arsenic suspects who ignored informing shots. It said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties. 

A further 80 group were reportedly killed since nan GHF opened nan assistance distribution sites past week, successful akin incidents connected Sunday and Monday. In some cases, nan Israeli subject claimed to person fired informing shots. 

New assistance system sparks controversy

Both nan US and Israel said they supported nan creation of a caller assistance distribution strategy successful Gaza aimed astatine stopping Hamas from warfare profiteering by diverting humanitarian supplies to money its equipped activities. 

The UN has many times denied that Hamas has systematically diverted nan assistance connected a important scale. It said safeguards are successful spot to forestall misuse. 

The UN has declined to participate successful nan caller distribution strategy pinch nan GHF, stating it violates humanitarian principles by giving Israel power complete who receives assistance and requiring Palestinians to recreation to cod supplies from only 3 hubs. 

Earlier this year, Israel imposed a complete assistance blockade connected nutrient and different supplies into Gaza for 2 and a half months earlier easing restrictions successful May.  

Humanitarian experts warned earlier this twelvemonth that nan Strip faced famine unless Israel lifted its blockade and stopped its renewed subject run that began successful March. 

Israel has vowed to prehend power of Gaza and conflict until Hamas is destroyed aliases disarmed and exiled, and until nan militant group returns nan remaining 58 hostages seized successful nan incursion that sparked nan war.

The Israel-Hamas warfare successful Gaza began erstwhile Hamas militants attacked confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, sidesplitting astir 1,200 people, astir of them civilians. Hamas took 251 group arsenic hostages and is presently holding 58, of whom 20 are believed to beryllium alive. 

A consequent Israeli violative has to day resulted successful nan deaths of astatine slightest 54,000 Palestinians, according to nan Hamas-run Gaza wellness ministry, whose figures do not separate betwixt fighters and civilians.

The Israeli subject says 862 of its soldiers person died since nan commencement of nan war. 

Hamas has been vastly depleted militarily and lost astir each of its elder leaders successful Gaza.