Palestinians Scramble for Emergency Aid as Israeli Attacks Persist
In Gaza, thousands of residents gathered near a humanitarian aid distribution site in Rafah on Wednesday night, as a contentious project backed by the U.S. and Israel expanded. The crowd had hoped to receive food aid, but supplies proved insufficient when distribution began the following day.
The site, situated near the Morag corridor controlled by the Israel Defense Forces, witnessed chaotic scenes as large crowds of Gazans rushed to collect aid. The boxes handed out bore the mark of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was responsible for aid distribution in collaboration with American and Israeli authorities.
One man expressed his frustration to Reuters, stating, "We want to eat, we want to live—what should we do?" Another individual was forced to leave empty-handed, explaining that he was surrounded amidst the scrum by hundreds of people, preventing him from obtaining aid.
Israeli airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that 67 people were killed and 184 injured over the preceding 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 54,249 fatalities and 123,492 injuries.
The UN and other humanitarian organizations raise serious concerns about the GHF's methods. The organization is criticized for militarizing aid with the presence of armed contractors and locating hubs in ways that may forcibly displace the population. Adherence to humanitarian principles, such as humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, are also questioned.
Due to these concerns, UN-coordinated humanitarian efforts are preferred over the GHF's plan. The UN and organizations like CARE advocate for an established, proven, and immediately operational plan to restart large-scale aid deliveries.
The GHF has faced criticism back home, as well. It has been reported that the entity registered in Switzerland is breaching foundation rules and will be wound down. However, the primary operational branch is based in the United States and has been in operation since February 2025. As of Thursday, GHF claimed their operations were continuing to scale up, having distributed a total of eight trucks worth of aid on Wednesday—enough for 378,262 meals—and increasing to around 997,920 meals distributed from three operational sites on Thursday.
However, these efforts are viewed as mere drops in a vast pool of needed aid, according to multiple aid organizations and nongovernmental entities.
- The political landscape surrounding international health and wellness initiatives is under scrutiny, with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) facing criticism for its methods and adherence to humanitarian principles.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts in Gaza have led to a dire need for food and medical aid, yet the distribution efforts by the GHF have been deemed insufficient, causing frustration among residents.
- Amidst the ongoing chaos, General News outlets such as Reuters are reporting on the struggles of ordinary people trying to survive, as Israeli airstrikes continue, causing hundreds of casualties in the region.
- The UN and organizations like CARE are advocating for a more efficient and immediate aid delivery system, preferring UN-coordinated humanitarian efforts over the GHF's plan due to concerns about militarization, displacement, and neutrality.
- The GHF's operations are not without challenges domestically as well, with reports suggesting that the entity registered in Switzerland is in breach of foundation rules, leading to its potential dissolution.
- meanwhile, amidst these political and ethical debates, the GHF claims that aid distributions are increasing, with 378,262 meals distributed on Wednesday and plans to scale up to approximately 997,920 meals from three operational sites on Thursday, yet these efforts are seen as merely a small step in addressing the vast need for aid in Gaza.
