In the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, an Israeli airstrike targeted a street that was bustling with people who had gathered to receive bags of flour. These supplies had been seized by a Palestinian police unit from those looting aid convoys. Tragically, hospital authorities reported that 18 people lost their lives in the incident.
This latest episode of violence adds to the ongoing turmoil surrounding aid distribution in Gaza, a region experiencing significant hardship over the past month. For two and a half months, Israel halted all food supplies to the region and has since instituted severe restrictions, allowing only limited aid to pass through since the middle of May.
Problems with looting by armed gangs and desperate crowds attacking aid convoys have complicated the United Nations’ efforts to distribute food effectively throughout Gaza. Thursday’s airstrike targeted the Sahm unit, a security group from Gaza’s Hamas-led Interior Ministry but includes members from various factions, assigned to curb looting and rogue merchants.
Witnesses of the attack reported that Sahm members were handing out bags of flour and other confiscated goods when the strike occurred, resulting in a bloody aftermath on the crowded street. The death toll included a child and at least seven of the Sahm members, as confirmed by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital—which managed the casualties.
The Israeli military did not comment immediately on the strike. Israel continues to assert that Hamas misappropriates aid to support its governance within the enclave. Repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza’s police have occurred under the pretext of them being extensions of Hamas.
In response to such tensions, an association of influential clans and tribes in Gaza initiated a separate effort to safeguard aid convoys against theft. Known as the National Gathering of Palestinian Clans and Tribes, this group recently aided in the delivery of a rare flour shipment to northern Gaza. However, whether this initiative was discussed or aided by the U.N. or Israeli officials remains unclear.
Amid mounting pressures, Israel accused Hamas of hijacking incoming aid and urged their military to act against these alleged infractions. However, Tribal leaders vehemently denied these accusations as unfounded attempts to justify ongoing Israeli military operations, asserting that they were firmly dedicated to protecting these vital supplies for the populace.
As Gaza grapples with over 20 months of relentless conflict, the U.N. and aid agencies strive to deliver substantial amounts of food, medicine, and other essentials despite hurdles posed by looting and other disruptions. Continued efforts by Israel to dismantle the U.N.-led aid system—partly based on unfounded allegations of theft by Hamas—have engendered a situation fraught with chaos and hardship.
Amid these challenges, an American private contractor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been distributing food boxes at several sites, primarily in the southern regions of Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians endure long treks to these distribution centers, braving Israeli military zones amidst reports of aggressive crowd control measures.
Meanwhile, the flow of aid remains restricted. However, the World Health Organization recently reported the successful delivery of medical supplies to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza—marking the first such shipment since early March.
Images captured of the recent aid distribution showed eager crowds in Gaza City lining up to receive flour shipments from the latest convoy. Residents like Hiba Khalil expressed gratitude for finally obtaining flour, highlighting how scarcity had led to suffering among families already struggling to feed their children.
Simultaneously, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that additional Israeli airstrikes had caused further casualties overnight, claiming at least 28 more lives across the region in Gaza City and its southern territories.