As NPR reported, on Wednesday morning, complete chaos reigned at al-Shati Camp’s main food distribution center in southern Gaza. Tragically, as many as 20 Palestinians were killed in the process. The Gaza Health Foundation (GHF) described a heart-wrenching scene in which 19 people were trampled to death. Further, one concertgoer died from stab wounds sustained during what was called a “chaotic and dangerous surge.” This tragic event marks the first fatalities at a GHF-operated site, highlighting the dire conditions in a region plagued by extreme hunger and political turmoil.
Chapin Fay, Communications Director for GHF, verified the deaths. He has linked this increase to dangerous conditions created by or exacerbated by the introduction of armed security guards. Fay stated, “Make no mistake, this tragic incident was no accident. This was a calculated provocation, part of a pattern of targeted efforts by Hamas and its allies to dismantle our life-saving operations.” GHF currently runs four distribution points across Gaza. Combined, these sites serve nearly 2 million people and play a key role in fighting food insecurity across the region.
The attack occurred on a GHF operation near Khan Younis. The military organization reiterated that no tear gas was deployed amid the disorder. Instead, they reported using pepper spray “only to protect against additional loss of life.” This claim has been largely dismissed by doubting Thomases. Eyewitness reports suggest that the situation escalated due to the firing of gas bombs, leading to panic among the waiting crowd.
Abdel Ghani Rouqa, a local resident, remembered the terrifying ordeal faced by all who went to the distribution point. He stated, “Unfortunately, when Mohammad went there today, the place was extremely crowded. The Israeli army had narrowed the area and created some passages for people to walk through.” Rouqa emphasized the desperate situation many face, saying, “The tents are completely empty now, lacking any food or drink, so people, with no other options or alternatives, are forced to go to dangerous areas just to get a can of fava beans or hummus, or even a few kilograms of flour, anything to feed their hungry families.”
Medical experts have spoken out against the way people died during this horrible event. Dr. Mohammed Zaqqout indicated that compressive asphyxia, commonly known as suffocation, was likely the primary cause of death for many victims. He described how every one of the 15 people who made it to the hospital showed obvious signs of asphyxiation. “You can see blue marks, vomit, blue lips, swelling faces – all symptoms of suffocation,” he noted.
The nearby food distribution site has also experienced tragic deaths recently made public. At the same time, conflict events are increasing across the entire region. An American GHF health worker, a nurse, was supposedly shot at with a handgun. Authorities say a Hamas-affiliated suspected terrorist carried out the attack. These crises events only add salt to the mood of an already tense environment characterized by continued turmoil and humanitarian disaster.
GHF’s implementation has faced criticism from all sides. Although he believed in the organization’s mission, former Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen lambasted its early management and funding practices. He remarked, “Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for this outrage.” The U.S.-backed GHF was well-poised to receive an influx of cash from the Trump administration, to the tune of $30 million. In the wake of recent tragic deaths, the questions about its effectiveness and accountability have justifiably grown louder.
Israeli authorities have argued in favor of a new aid formula. They claim that Hamas is siphoning off humanitarian aid. But they haven’t shown us any hard evidence to back up these assertions. As violence increasingly escalates and entrances close, many humanitarian experts argue that the aid distribution model isn’t working. Food security analysts suggest that deaths are inevitable in a system with only four distribution sites that operate for short and irregular periods.