Israel faces growing condemnation as Gaza aid distribution devolves into chaos

Israel is facing growing international pressure as aid distribution efforts in Gaza devolved into chaos during the first days of a controversial new mechanism backed by the United States and Israel.

Israel is facing growing international pressure as aid distribution efforts in Gaza devolved into chaos during the first days of a controversial new mechanism backed by the United States and Israel. According to the Palestinian health ministry, 11 people have been killed and dozens injured as crowds of desperate people arrived at distribution sites in southern Gaza since they opened earlier this week. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which runs the new sites, said on Thursday that no one was killed or injured during the distribution of aid. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, pushed towards famine after an 11-week Israeli blockade, descended on both the sites belonging to the GHF, as well as a warehouse run by the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) over the past three days, grabbing bags of food and bags of flour. Food scarcity in Gaza has sparked scenes of desperation and widespread looting in recent days. The start of the new aid mechanism comes as some of Israel’s closest allies have grown increasingly vocal in their condemnation of its conduct in Gaza, and their threats of action should the bombardment and restrictions on aid continue. On Wednesday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said, “Israel’s strikes in Gaza go beyond what is necessary to fight Hamas.” She also criticized the new aid mechanism run by GHF, saying the EU does not support “any kind of privatization of the distribution of humanitarian aid.”