UN Condemns U.S-Backed Aid Distribution in Gaza After Dozens Injured in Chaos
The United Nations has strongly criticized a controversial, U.S.-backed aid distribution initiative in Gaza after at least 47 people were injured, and one reportedly killed in a chaotic rush for food that spiraled into violence as Israeli troops fired warning shots to disperse crowds.
The incident took place at a distribution site managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private group that has drawn mounting scrutiny for operating outside the UN-led aid coordination system.
GHF’s operations have bypassed traditional UN channels, raising concerns about transparency, oversight, and the safety of recipients in the besieged territory.
The rush occurred amid a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now entering its 600th day since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack. The assault killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw dozens taken hostage.
In Gaza, desperation has reached alarming levels. Palestinians face widespread shortages of food, clean water, electricity, and medical care under an Israeli-imposed blockade that was only partially lifted last week.
“Dying from an airstrike is better than dying slowly from hunger and humiliation,” said Heba Jabr, 29, a displaced mother of two living in a tent in southern Gaza. “I can’t even find bread for my children.”
The UN’s human rights office reported that most of the injuries at the GHF distribution site were caused by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces. A local medical source confirmed that more than 40 wounded were treated at Nasser Hospital, and one person succumbed to their injuries.
The Israeli military acknowledged firing warning shots “outside the compound,” but denied using aerial fire or targeting civilians. It maintained that the measures were taken to control an uncontrollable crowd surging the aid site.
“This tragedy underscores the consequences of circumventing established humanitarian systems,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian Territories.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), condemned the parallel system, calling it “a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities on the ground.”
“We already have an aid delivery network that is fit for purpose. What we need is unfettered access and a ceasefire — not more chaos,” Lazzarini stated during a visit to Japan.
The GHF claims it has delivered over 8,000 food boxes — totaling 462,000 meals — to Gaza since launching its distribution drive. However, critics argue that its “secure sites” are inaccessible to many internally displaced Gazans, forcing them to relocate again just to survive.
Meanwhile, the civilian death toll continues to rise. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed 16 people on Wednesday alone. The Hamas-run health ministry said at least 3,924 people have been killed in Gaza since the most recent ceasefire collapsed on March 18 — part of a staggering 54,000+ death toll since the war began, the vast majority civilians.
In Israel, grief and frustration continue to mount among families of hostages still held by Hamas. At 6:29 a.m. — the exact time the October 7 attacks began — hundreds gathered across Tel Aviv to mark 600 days since their loved ones were taken.
“Six hundred days have passed, and nothing has changed,” said Bassam Daloul, a displaced Palestinian whose family has moved 20 times since the conflict began. “The bombings continue. Even hoping for peace feels like a nightmare.”
Protesters in Israel called for an immediate ceasefire that would secure the release of the remaining 57 hostages.
As mediators struggle to revive talks, the humanitarian crisis deepens, and the future for civilians on both sides remains mired in violence, hunger, and political deadlock.
