A box of life: Desperation turns Gaza relief effort into scene of fear and chaos

Time of India

28-05-2025

Palestinians carry boxes containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organisation approved by Israel, in Rafah. (Pic credit: AP)
Chaos broke out at a newly opened aid distribution centre in southern Gaza on Tuesday, as hundreds of desperate civilians scrambled for food amid bursts of gunfire and scenes of panic.
The site, backed by an Israeli initiative and managed by private contractors, was overwhelmed on its first full day of operations, highlighting the mounting humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave.
Crowds storm centre amid dire shortages
Footage verified by The New York Times showed crowds, including women and children, surging into the compound in Rafah's Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood. Some climbed sand berms while others forced their way through fencing as boxes of aid were being distributed.
'Suddenly, a large number of people started pushing and entering randomly,' Ayman Abu Zaid told AFP, a displaced Gazan who had been standing in line. 'They tried to get in to take whatever they could.'
Gunfire sends fleeing masses into panic
In one clip, people are seen running away from the site as gunshots echo in the distance. Israeli troops, stationed outside the compound, later confirmed they had fired warning shots but denied using aerial fire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted there was a 'momentary loss of control,' though Israeli military officials called the operation a 'success.'
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which oversees the effort, said its team temporarily pulled back 'to allow a small number of Gazans to take aid safely and dissipate.'
Security overwhelmed despite planning
Security at the site is managed by American contractors, while Israeli forces monitor the perimeter.
But even with protocols in place, the sheer volume of people proved unmanageable. Two people involved in the initiative confirmed that crowds eventually broke through in the afternoon.
Palestinian workers formed a cordon to protect remaining supplies. Contractors retreated to avoid confrontation and did not fire weapons, according to sources.
Hunger and uncertainty grip the population
The aid distribution comes after Israel's blockade, in place since March, halted critical food and fuel deliveries into Gaza.
Most humanitarian operations had stopped, and widespread hunger is now a daily reality.
One man, identifying himself only as Hassan, said he walked more than three miles from his shelter in Khan Younis but left empty-handed. 'My stomach was empty, and I had to walk all the way back to the tent where my family is staying,' he said.
A fragile lifeline in a deepening crisis
Despite the chaos, the GHF says operations have resumed. Videos show some people receiving aid earlier in the day, though it remains unclear how many were served before the site was overrun.
Tuesday's incident underscores both the desperation of civilians and the high stakes of delivering aid in Gaza.