Israeli Troops Open Fire After US-Backed Group Loses Control Of Aid Distribution Site In Gaza
Thousands of hungry Palestinians walked over torn-down fences at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) compound in the southern city of Rafah, after a blockade by Israel.
Israeli troops opened fire near thousands of hungry Palestinians after they overran an aid distribution site in Gaza set up by a US and Israeli-backed group in Gaza, a day after it began working there, according to several reports.
Videos on social media showed huge crowds walking over torn-down fences at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) compound in the southern city of Rafah. The aid group was not prepared to receive such a huge crowd and the staff at one point had to abandon their posts, according to The Guardian.
'At one moment in the late afternoon, the volume of people at the SDS [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 GHF said in a statement.
Israeli tank fire and gunfire were heard as the situation spiralled out of control, and a military helicopter fired flares. At least three injured Palestinians were taken from the scene, one of them bleeding from a leg wound.
⚠️BREAKING: Complete chaos in Gaza right now as thousands of Gazans stormed humanitarian aid distribution compounds, stealing everything, including aid, equipment, tables, chairs, and nets. They took it all.Did anyone expect this to go differently?
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) May 27, 2025
The Israeli military said it fired 'warning shots" near the compound to restore control, as thousands of hungry Palestinians rushed into an open field where aid boxes were waiting. Some of them managed to obtain aid boxes with basic items including sugar, flour, pasta and tahini, but most left empty-handed.
The GHF said its decision to abandon the distribution centre 'was done in accordance with the protocol to avoid casualties" and said it had handed 8,000 boxes of food to feed 44,000 people – which is 2% of Gaza's population. The foundation said deliveries would be increased during the week.
Israeli PM Acknowledges 'Loss Of Control'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that there was a 'loss of control momentarily", but a senior military official told AFP that the distribution was nonetheless 'a success".
'We worked out a plan with our American friends to have controlled distribution sites where an American company would distribute the food to Palestinian families… There was some loss of control momentarily. Happily, we brought it back under control," said Netanyahu in a speech on Tuesday.
Israel's 11-week siege and a tight blockade has resulted in widespread hunger and starvation in Gaza as Palestinians reel from a devastating offensive that has killed more than 54,000 people and rendered over a million homeless.
The UN said the videos of aid distribution from Rafah were 'heartbreaking" and that it had a detailed plan ready to get enough aid to the 'desperate population" of 2.1 million. Furthermore, the UN is at odds with the GHF, accusing the latter of contradicting humanitarian principles and 'weaponising aid".
Jake Wood, the founding director of the GHF, resigned on Sunday, saying that it would not be possible for the group to deliver aid 'while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence".
The GHF board rejected the criticism and accused Hamas of stealing aid, echoing statements made by the US and Israel. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce criticised the UN's stance on working with the GHF and said the main focus was giving aid to Gaza.
Hamas has publicly warned Palestinians not to co-operate with GHF's system, after accusations from Israel of disrupting supply networks to profit from aid.
'People Are Exhausted'
Witnesses in Gaza described scenes of chaos as people seized food parcels and other aid from the site. 'The situation was extremely difficult. They only allowed 50 people to cross at a time. In the end, chaos broke out – people climbed over the gates, attacked others, and took all the [aid]," one man told BBC.
'People are exhausted – willing to do anything, even risk their lives – just to find food and feed their children," said a woman. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation and its partners had a 'detailed, principled, operationally sound plan" to get aid inside Gaza.
top videos
View all
Israel imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza on March 2, while resuming its military offensive that has killed over 4,000 people since that month. Netanyahu also announced the launch of an expanded offensive this month that would see troops 'take control of all areas" of Gaza.
Following pressure from allies, Netanyahu said Israel would temporarily ease the blockade and allow 'basic amount of food" in Gaza to prevent a famine. Since then, Israeli authorities say they have allowed at least 665 loads of humanitarian aid, including flour, baby food and medical supplies, into Gaza.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Amicable solution in a week to demand for starting Ganapati immersion procession early: Pune police commissioner
Pune: City police commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Tuesday said an amicable solution would be found in a week's time to the demand from Ganesh mandals for starting the immersion procession earlier than the usual time of 10am. Altogether 60 mandals in Pune have demanded an earlier start to the immersion procession. They said the procession of five Manache Ganapati mandals starts at 10 am, which delays the entire immersion process. They have demanded that they be allowed to commence the procession around 7am before the start of the procession by five Manache Ganapati mandals. The members of mandals alleged that due to the prominence given to the Manache Ganapati mandals, smaller mandals receive secondary treatment and are made to wait for hours before they could start the immersion procession. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Gold Rates Today in Pune | Silver Rates Today in Pune Kumar spoke with mandal representatives at a joint meeting organised by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and district administration. "All the mandals are equal to us as far as enforcement of the law is concerned. The department will hear the points of view of all the stakeholders and take a final call on the demand of mandals accordingly," he said. The joint meeting held at Bal Gandharva Rangmandir was attended by officials of the fire brigade and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Naval Kishore Ram, PMC commissioner, said that the administration is in the process of finalising the preparations for the festival and the mandals should cooperate, too. "A facility like Road Mitra app has been introduced. Citizens as well as mandal workers can report issues pertaining to roads on the app. Any other suggestions from members of mandals are also welcome," he said. A group of small mandals had declared last week that they would break over-a-century-old tradition of giving first preference to Manache Ganapati mandals during immersion. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Aravali group moves court on Matri Van ‘violations' in Haryana
Gurgaon: Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement (ABCM), a local conservation group, has filed a detailed petition in the district court against three senior Haryana forest officers. ABCM has accused the officials — chief conservator of forests (CCF) Subhash Yadav, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Raj Kumar and divisional wildlife officer (DWO) Ramkumar Jangra — of dereliction of duty and misuse of authority in the controversial Matri Van plantation drive in the Aravalis in Sector 54. The complaint was submitted on Aug 18 through ABCM's managing trustee Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi. According to the plea, pamphlets distributed by private entities promoted the project as Matri Van. The group claims this was evidence of private contractors' involvement, even though reforestation work can legally only be executed by the forest and wildlife departments as the area is Aravalis. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gold Rates Today in Gurgaon | Silver Rates Today in Gurgaon At the heart of the dispute is whether plantation drives are being used as a backdoor entry for private players into ecologically sensitive zones. The group says the violations include damage to bird habitats, interference in protected forest areas and unlawful engagement of private contractors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It seeks proceedings under Section 223 of BNSS, for offences under sections 61, 316(5) and 325 of BNS, along with provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. ABCM has also demanded that an FIR be registered under sections 173(4) and 175(3) of BNSS, treating the matter as a cognizable offence. A senior official, when contacted, said the matter was "under examination" and that all plantation work in the Aravalis was being done "strictly under govt oversight." Matri Van sits on notified forest land, where clearance requires permissions under the Indian Forest Act and the Punjab Land Preservation Act. Plantation drives in such zones are typically done by the forest department. The complaint accused DWO Jangra of failing to prevent harm to bird nests and wildlife during the drive . The Aravali hills — spread across Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat — are legally protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 and several Supreme Court orders banning non-forest activity in notified areas. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Flag pandal-related hassles, civic & irrigation officials tell citizens
Kolhapur: Several Ganesh mandals in Kolhapur city have ignored the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) and revenue department's instructions to set up pandals that do not obstruct commuters. Over 400 mandals sought permission to build the pandals for Ganesh festival starting from Aug 27 and most mandals have erected pandals that have inconvenienced residents. Varsha Mali, resident of Rajarampuri said, "We cannot park our vehicles in front of the apartment building since a pandal is erected there. During the festival period, we have to park it in another lane." The KMC apprised the mandals to ensure the pandals do not come in the way of ambulances as per the Bombay HC's 2016 guidelines. The pandal size must be such that it does not occupy more than 25% of the road width, meaning 75% of the road width must be vacant for vehicles to pass safely. Ramesh Mhaskar, chief city engineer of KMC, said, " We have set up panels of officers for each of the four divisional ward offices to scrutinise the pandals. We have floated the call numbers for the citizens to dial and register their complaints if mandals are found to violate the norms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo We are also holding meetings with the traffic department officials to find the diversions, especially in the areas with a high density of health establishments, to avoid inconvenience to patients. " Each panel consists of a revenue officer of naib tehsildar rank, a KMC deputy city engineer and the police in charge of the respective police station. Mousami Chougule, sub-divisional officer, has appealed to citizens to register their complaints with the panels. "Notices will be issued to mandals found violating pandal norms and will be asked to rectify at the earliest," an official said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
