Latest news with #OrenMarmorstein
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Hamas working to 'sabotage' Trump-backed aid group with 'fake news': Israeli official
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israeli-backed group, has been the subject of backlash since before it began distributing aid last month. Since the beginning of its operations there have been reports of violent incidents near distribution sites. Recently, the IDF admitted that troops shot "suspects" who failed to heed orders to back away from the soldiers. One of the most vocal critics of GHF has been the United Nations, with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher urging the world to let his agency handle the situation. However, Israeli officials have pushed back on the U.N. narrative, saying that GHF is distributing aid without letting Hamas benefit. "Hamas is doing everything that it can to sabotage this effort to distribute aid directly to the people," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Fox News Digital. He also said that the terror group is "extremely afraid" that if the GHF is successful, it will "lose its grip" on the population of Gaza. Marmorstein blamed Hamas for spreading "fake news" and "fake information" to take down the GHF. On Wednesday, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Strip. Israel has repeatedly asserted that without limitations on aid entering Gaza, Hamas would be able to enrich itself and keep control over the area. In remarks ahead of the veto, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Dorothy Shea criticized the resolution, saying it failed to "acknowledge the disastrous shortcomings of the prior method of aid delivery, which allowed Hamas to enrich itself at the expense of Palestinians, and failed to get food and water to those who needed it most." She also urged U.N. member states to support GHF "to help it safely deliver aid without it being diverted by Hamas." Shea is not alone in her criticism of the U.N.'s approach to GHF. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon recently accused the international body of employing "mafia-like" tactics against NGOs that worked with GHF. "Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza," Danon told the Security Council on May 28. "This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring." The GHF closed its distribution sites on Wednesday, saying it was working to bolster security and would reopen on Thursday. However, the reopening was delayed because of maintenance work. The sites eventually resumed aid distribution later on Thursday.
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Israeli officials object to expected UN Security Council ceasefire resolution
Israeli officials are speaking out against a draft resolution that is set to go before the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. The resolution, which has the support of Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia, calls for a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the return of the hostages and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid. The United Nations has issued a litany of criticisms of Israel's handling of the war as Palestinians in Gaza struggled under the blockade that was reinstated after the ceasefire collapsed in March. Israel lifted restrictions on humanitarian aid in May. Israeli officials warn that the resolution "undermines" humanitarian aid efforts while leaving Hamas in power. "This resolution doesn't advance humanitarian relief. It undermines it. It ignores a working system in favor of political agendas. It ignores the one party still endangering civilians in Gaza: Hamas. The group that hijacks trucks and stockpiles the aid to their benefit," Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said ahead of the vote. Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Fox News Digital that the resolution does not do enough to link the release of hostages to the establishment of a ceasefire. The Israeli official also said the resolution would allow Hamas to stay in power. "So basically, what this proposal is favoring or offering to do is to enable Hamas to come up with another October 7th massacre," Marmorstein told Fox News Digital. He added that Hamas said it would carry out another violent attack like the one on Oct. 7, 2023. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israel-backed aid organization, paused its aid distribution operations on Wednesday following days of deadly incidents near its sites. "GHF is actively engaged in discussions with the IDF to enhance its security measures beyond the immediate perimeter of GHF sites," a GHF spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We have asked the IDF to: introduce measures that guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near IDF military perimeters; develop clearer IDF-issued guidance to help the population transit safely; enhance IDF force training and refine internal IDF procedures to support safety." If passed, the resolution would be legally binding—unlike those that come out of the U.N. General Assembly. It is unclear, however, what impact it would have on Israel's current operations or policy. The U.S. Mission to the U.N. did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
At least 27 Palestinians killed near Gaza aid site
At least 27 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip, local health authorities say. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the enclave. Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting. The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles. The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site". However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies. Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometre away, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness say. The military said it fired warning shots at "suspects" who approached its forces. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid centres, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticised the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals. "Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck "terror targets" across northern Gaza, without elaborating. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. with dpa At least 27 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip, local health authorities say. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the enclave. Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting. The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles. The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site". However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies. Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometre away, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness say. The military said it fired warning shots at "suspects" who approached its forces. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid centres, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticised the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals. "Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck "terror targets" across northern Gaza, without elaborating. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. with dpa At least 27 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip, local health authorities say. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the enclave. Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting. The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles. The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site". However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies. Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometre away, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness say. The military said it fired warning shots at "suspects" who approached its forces. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid centres, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticised the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals. "Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck "terror targets" across northern Gaza, without elaborating. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. with dpa At least 27 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip, local health authorities say. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the enclave. Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting. The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles. The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site". However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies. Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometre away, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness say. The military said it fired warning shots at "suspects" who approached its forces. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid centres, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticised the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals. "Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck "terror targets" across northern Gaza, without elaborating. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. with dpa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Israel: UN chief's call to probe deaths near Gaza aid site 'disgrace'
UN Secretary General António Guterres on Monday called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid distribution centres in Gaza, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticized the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals. "Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X. Guterres had earlier demanded an inquiry into reports, based on Hamas claims, that Israeli strikes killed civilians seeking aid. The Hamas-run media office on Sunday said 30 people were killed in such incidents. "It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," Guterres wrote on X, adding that Israel is obligated under international humanitarian law to facilitate aid deliveries. The Israeli military rejected the allegations, saying a preliminary review found no evidence of fire on civilians near or inside aid facilities. The claims could not be independently verified. Israel has recently allowed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip, bypassing UN agencies while resuming limited aid deliveries after a nearly three-month blockade.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Palestinians storm aid centres, ignoring checks
Thousands of Palestinians stormed into sites where aid was being distributed by a foundation backed by the US and Israel, with desperation for food overcoming concern about biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ. By late afternoon on Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it had distributed about 8000 food boxes, equivalent to about 462,000 meals, after an almost three-month-old Israeli blockade of the war-devastated enclave. In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. Videos, some of which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed lines of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Later, images shared on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas, Gaza's dominant militant group, had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. "The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation's administration in those buffer zones," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters. "This has led to thousands of starving people, under the pressure of siege and hunger, storming distribution centres and seizing food, during which Israeli forces opened fire," he added. The Israel military said its troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound and that control was reestablished. A UN spokesperson called images of the incident "heartbreaking." Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X that 8000 "food packages" were delivered to Palestinians on Tuesday, the first day of what he described as an American initiative. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar. Although the aid was available on Monday, Palestinians appeared to have heeded warnings, including from Hamas, about biometric screening procedures employed at the foundation's aid distribution sites. Israel says the Switzerland-based GHF is a US-backed initiative and that its forces will not be involved in the distribution points where food will be handed out. But its endorsement of the plan and its closeness with the US has led many to question the neutrality of the foundation, including its own former chief, who resigned unexpectedly on Sunday. The Israeli military said four aid sites have been established in recent weeks across the enclave, and that two of them in the Rafah area began operations on Tuesday and "are distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip." The GHF said the number of people seeking aid at one distribution site was so great at one point on Tuesday that its team had to pull back to allow people to "take aid safely and dissipate" and to avoid casualties. It said normal operations later resumed. Israeli officials said one of the advantages of the new aid system is the opportunity to screen recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas. Israel, at war with Hamas since October 2023, accuses Hamas of stealing supplies and using them to entrench its position. Hamas denies the accusations. The Israeli military said in a statement that 400 humanitarian aid trucks were waiting in Gaza for distribution but that the UN was still refusing to "do its job." Last week Israel eased its blockade, allowing a trickle of aid trucks from international agencies into Gaza - just a fraction of the 500-600 trucks that the UN estimates are needed every day. Thousands of Palestinians stormed into sites where aid was being distributed by a foundation backed by the US and Israel, with desperation for food overcoming concern about biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ. By late afternoon on Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it had distributed about 8000 food boxes, equivalent to about 462,000 meals, after an almost three-month-old Israeli blockade of the war-devastated enclave. In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. Videos, some of which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed lines of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Later, images shared on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas, Gaza's dominant militant group, had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. "The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation's administration in those buffer zones," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters. "This has led to thousands of starving people, under the pressure of siege and hunger, storming distribution centres and seizing food, during which Israeli forces opened fire," he added. The Israel military said its troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound and that control was reestablished. A UN spokesperson called images of the incident "heartbreaking." Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X that 8000 "food packages" were delivered to Palestinians on Tuesday, the first day of what he described as an American initiative. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar. Although the aid was available on Monday, Palestinians appeared to have heeded warnings, including from Hamas, about biometric screening procedures employed at the foundation's aid distribution sites. Israel says the Switzerland-based GHF is a US-backed initiative and that its forces will not be involved in the distribution points where food will be handed out. But its endorsement of the plan and its closeness with the US has led many to question the neutrality of the foundation, including its own former chief, who resigned unexpectedly on Sunday. The Israeli military said four aid sites have been established in recent weeks across the enclave, and that two of them in the Rafah area began operations on Tuesday and "are distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip." The GHF said the number of people seeking aid at one distribution site was so great at one point on Tuesday that its team had to pull back to allow people to "take aid safely and dissipate" and to avoid casualties. It said normal operations later resumed. Israeli officials said one of the advantages of the new aid system is the opportunity to screen recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas. Israel, at war with Hamas since October 2023, accuses Hamas of stealing supplies and using them to entrench its position. Hamas denies the accusations. The Israeli military said in a statement that 400 humanitarian aid trucks were waiting in Gaza for distribution but that the UN was still refusing to "do its job." Last week Israel eased its blockade, allowing a trickle of aid trucks from international agencies into Gaza - just a fraction of the 500-600 trucks that the UN estimates are needed every day. Thousands of Palestinians stormed into sites where aid was being distributed by a foundation backed by the US and Israel, with desperation for food overcoming concern about biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ. By late afternoon on Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it had distributed about 8000 food boxes, equivalent to about 462,000 meals, after an almost three-month-old Israeli blockade of the war-devastated enclave. In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. Videos, some of which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed lines of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Later, images shared on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas, Gaza's dominant militant group, had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. "The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation's administration in those buffer zones," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters. "This has led to thousands of starving people, under the pressure of siege and hunger, storming distribution centres and seizing food, during which Israeli forces opened fire," he added. The Israel military said its troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound and that control was reestablished. A UN spokesperson called images of the incident "heartbreaking." Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X that 8000 "food packages" were delivered to Palestinians on Tuesday, the first day of what he described as an American initiative. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar. Although the aid was available on Monday, Palestinians appeared to have heeded warnings, including from Hamas, about biometric screening procedures employed at the foundation's aid distribution sites. Israel says the Switzerland-based GHF is a US-backed initiative and that its forces will not be involved in the distribution points where food will be handed out. But its endorsement of the plan and its closeness with the US has led many to question the neutrality of the foundation, including its own former chief, who resigned unexpectedly on Sunday. The Israeli military said four aid sites have been established in recent weeks across the enclave, and that two of them in the Rafah area began operations on Tuesday and "are distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip." The GHF said the number of people seeking aid at one distribution site was so great at one point on Tuesday that its team had to pull back to allow people to "take aid safely and dissipate" and to avoid casualties. It said normal operations later resumed. Israeli officials said one of the advantages of the new aid system is the opportunity to screen recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas. Israel, at war with Hamas since October 2023, accuses Hamas of stealing supplies and using them to entrench its position. Hamas denies the accusations. The Israeli military said in a statement that 400 humanitarian aid trucks were waiting in Gaza for distribution but that the UN was still refusing to "do its job." Last week Israel eased its blockade, allowing a trickle of aid trucks from international agencies into Gaza - just a fraction of the 500-600 trucks that the UN estimates are needed every day. Thousands of Palestinians stormed into sites where aid was being distributed by a foundation backed by the US and Israel, with desperation for food overcoming concern about biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ. By late afternoon on Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it had distributed about 8000 food boxes, equivalent to about 462,000 meals, after an almost three-month-old Israeli blockade of the war-devastated enclave. In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. Videos, some of which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed lines of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Later, images shared on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas, Gaza's dominant militant group, had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. "The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation's administration in those buffer zones," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters. "This has led to thousands of starving people, under the pressure of siege and hunger, storming distribution centres and seizing food, during which Israeli forces opened fire," he added. The Israel military said its troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound and that control was reestablished. A UN spokesperson called images of the incident "heartbreaking." Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X that 8000 "food packages" were delivered to Palestinians on Tuesday, the first day of what he described as an American initiative. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar. Although the aid was available on Monday, Palestinians appeared to have heeded warnings, including from Hamas, about biometric screening procedures employed at the foundation's aid distribution sites. Israel says the Switzerland-based GHF is a US-backed initiative and that its forces will not be involved in the distribution points where food will be handed out. But its endorsement of the plan and its closeness with the US has led many to question the neutrality of the foundation, including its own former chief, who resigned unexpectedly on Sunday. The Israeli military said four aid sites have been established in recent weeks across the enclave, and that two of them in the Rafah area began operations on Tuesday and "are distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip." The GHF said the number of people seeking aid at one distribution site was so great at one point on Tuesday that its team had to pull back to allow people to "take aid safely and dissipate" and to avoid casualties. It said normal operations later resumed. Israeli officials said one of the advantages of the new aid system is the opportunity to screen recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas. Israel, at war with Hamas since October 2023, accuses Hamas of stealing supplies and using them to entrench its position. Hamas denies the accusations. The Israeli military said in a statement that 400 humanitarian aid trucks were waiting in Gaza for distribution but that the UN was still refusing to "do its job." Last week Israel eased its blockade, allowing a trickle of aid trucks from international agencies into Gaza - just a fraction of the 500-600 trucks that the UN estimates are needed every day.
