The Israeli military has announced that roads leading to aid distribution centres in Gaza will be treated as combat zones, leading to the temporary closure of these sites. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) cites organization improvements for the shutdown amidst escalating tensions and death tolls, as humanitarian groups continue to express alarm over the dire situation for Palestinians in Gaza.
IDF Declares Roads to Gaza Aid Centres as Combat Zones Amid Aid Distribution Challenges
IDF Declares Roads to Gaza Aid Centres as Combat Zones Amid Aid Distribution Challenges
Amid ongoing conflict, roads to humanitarian aid distribution centres in Gaza are closed for a day as the Israeli military classifies them as combat zones, raising concerns over access to essential supplies.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared that roads leading to humanitarian aid distribution centres in Gaza will be considered as combat zones, prompting the temporary closure of these essential sites for one day. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial organization supported by the U.S. and Israel, announced the closure for “update, organization and efficiency improvements works.”
The decision comes amid reports of violence; reports indicate at least 27 Palestinians were killed near one of the distribution sites recently, following IDF engagement against suspects deviating from designated routes. This incident marks the third deadly event in just three days on paths leading to GHF aid locations.
While GHF plans to resume aid distribution on Thursday, the broader humanitarian crisis persists, with organizations warning that the population in Gaza struggles with inadequate access to food, water, and other essential supplies. GHF aims to establish a new aid distribution framework to replace the UN-led efforts, as Israel has claimed that the latter failed to prevent aid from being intercepted by Hamas, an allegation the UN disputes.
Under this new system, aid must be collected from a limited number of locations controlled by Israeli military forces, staffed by armed American contractors. Critics have raised concerns that this model forces Palestinians to travel long distances and carry heavy boxes weighing around 20 kg back to their homes, thereby complicating access to vital resources.
Amid these developments, Reverend Dr. Johnnie Moore, an evangelical pastor and supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been appointed as the new head of GHF, replacing Jake Wood who previously criticized the foundation's aid distribution model.
Since the initiation of Israel’s military campaign in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the humanitarian situation has intensified significantly, with reports indicating over 54,470 deaths in Gaza to date, including approximately 4,201 casualties since hostilities resumed on March 18. The ongoing increases in casualties near aid centres are likely to escalate criticism surrounding Israel's approach to humanitarian assistance in the region.
