Palestinian man shot as he waited to receive food parcels at a distribution point (Credit: AFP)
Footage reveals growing pattern of 'Israeli' attacks at Gaza aid centers
The recurring incidents of violence near aid distribution sites in Gaza operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US and 'Israeli'-backed organization, have drawn significant attention due to their devastating impact on civilians.
Since March 2025, 'Israel' has imposed restrictions on international aid agencies, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), limiting their ability to deliver humanitarian assistance. The GHF was introduced as an alternative, but its operations have been criticized for ignoring established norms for safe aid distribution. The UN and other aid groups have warned that the GHF’s system, which funnels aid through militarized zones, is inherently unsafe and has become a "death trap" for civilians.
The blockade and restrictions have exacerbated Gaza’s food crisis, leaving over 2 million people reliant on limited aid. The GHF’s single operational center in Rafah forces hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to travel south, creating chaotic and overcrowded conditions that heighten the risk of violence.
The GHF operates aid distribution sites in militarized zones, often near Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) positions. This setup creates dangerous bottlenecks, as desperate civilians are forced to navigate areas under military control to access food and supplies. Witnesses and humanitarian experts have reported that the presence of IOF soldiers near these sites frequently leads to confrontations, with soldiers firing on crowds "perceived as threats."
Reports, including one from Haaretz, allege that 'Israeli' soldiers were ordered to use lethal force against civilians near aid sites, even when they posed no apparent threat. This has been described as treating gunfire as a form of communication, with soldiers firing machine guns and throwing grenades at crowds.
Numerous video footage has also documented events of American and 'Israeli' forces shooting civilians near aid centers.
Witnesses and Palestinian officials have reported that the IOF open fire without warning on civilians approaching aid sites. For example, a July 12, 2025, incident near Rafah saw at least 34 civilians killed, with witnesses describing soldiers firing directly on hungry crowds.
Gaza’s Government Media Office labeled these actions as potential war crimes, accusing 'Israel' of pursuing a "systematic policy of genocide" under the guise of aid distribution.
The GHF has also been accused of enabling 'Israel’s' strategy to displace Palestinians into concentrated areas, potentially as part of a broader plan to control or depopulate parts of Gaza. Critics argue that the GHF’s operations align with 'Israeli' proposals, such as the controversial "humanitarian city" in Rafah, which some liken to a "concentration camp" intended to displace 2.1 million Palestinians.
The GHF has denied reports of violence at its sites, with its leader, Johnnie Moore, claiming that not all casualties are directly linked to their operations. However, the UN and other sources have reported nearly 800 deaths near GHF sites since late May 2025.