So far, at least 509 Palestinians have died during the food distribution by the American organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to the UN aid organization OCHA. About a hundred deaths occurred during the distribution of aid by the United Nations and other organizations.
Since the full blockade of the Gaza Strip ended on May 19, there have been daily deaths during aid distribution. “We have registered 613 murders, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys,” said a UN spokesperson.
She points out that these figures are dated June 27 and that new incidents have since taken place. The UN does not assign responsibility for the deaths. However, it is clear that 509 of the 613 fatal incidents occurred during food distribution by the GHF. That is a controversial American organization that has the support of Israel.
A former GHF security agent told the British broadcaster BBC that his colleagues shot at Palestinians who posed no threat. In one incident, a guard fired a machine gun at women, children, and the elderly because they were leaving the food distribution point too slowly.
Earlier, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published testimonies from Israeli soldiers who were ordered to shoot at civilians. Israel acknowledges that shots were fired but denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Water production in Gaza comes to a standstill due to fuel shortage
The aid that Israel has allowed into Gaza since May is far from sufficient, according to aid organizations. The UN children’s organization UNICEF warned on Friday that the water shortage in the area is now “critical.” This is because Israel has not allowed fuel in for seventeen weeks. Fuel is needed to run water pumps.
“The world is watching as Gaza literally runs dry,” said Suzanne Laszlo, director of UNICEF Netherlands. She points out that UNICEF and partner organizations have the infrastructure to deliver fuel and pump water again within 48 hours. Only Israel’s permission to start doing so is lacking.
The GHF, which now controls most of the aid, is receiving much criticism from traditional aid organizations. The organization is said to be non-neutral and uses aid to lure people to other parts of Gaza. On Thursday, human rights organization Amnesty International said that GHF is using starvation as a weapon of war and aims for the “physical destruction” of Palestinians.