A recently established assistance program in Gaza inaugurated its initial distribution centers on Monday, as per a U.S.-supported organization. The group has commenced providing food aid to Palestinians experiencing escalating hunger due to Israel’s nearly three-month blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has assumed responsibility for aid distribution, despite objections from the United Nations. On a day marked by Israeli airstrikes claiming the lives of at least 52 individuals in Gaza, essential supplies began to flow.
The organization revealed that numerous truckloads of food—without specifying the exact quantity—had been dispatched to its centers, with distribution among Palestinians already underway. Details regarding the locations of the centers and the criteria for selection of aid recipients remained unclear.
“Additional aid shipments will arrive tomorrow, with the volume of aid increasing daily,” as stated by the foundation in a release.
The United Nations and various aid organizations have expressed opposition to the new aid mechanism endorsed by Israel and the United States, citing concerns that Israel may be weaponizing food and doubting the efficacy of the new setup.
Israel has advocated for an alternative aid delivery strategy to prevent Hamas from intercepting aid supplies. The U.N. has refuted claims that the militant group has diverted substantial quantities of aid.
Following the resignation of its executive director, the foundation initiated operations under new leadership. Jake Wood, an American, remarked that it had become apparent that the foundation would not be allowed to operate autonomously. The source of funding for the group remains undisclosed, though the foundation announced the appointment of John Acree as interim leader, succeeding Wood.
Comprising former humanitarian, governmental, and military officials, the organization has outlined plans for distribution points to be safeguarded by private security firms, targeting a million Palestinians—approximately half of Gaza’s population—by week’s end.
Under diplomatic pressure, Israel recently permitted a limited amount of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, following a total blockade on essential items like food, medicine, and fuel since early March. Aid agencies have warned of famine, emphasizing that the current aid influx falls short of meeting the escalating needs.
Hamas cautioned Palestinians against cooperating with the novel aid system, alleging ulterior motives behind its implementation.
Airstrikes at Shelter
Israeli airstrikes targeted a shelter in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 individuals as they slept, igniting their belongings, according to local health authorities. The military claimed to have aimed at militants operating from the school.
Israel recommenced its offensive in March post the cessation of a truce with Hamas. The nation has pledged to assert control over Gaza, continuing hostilities until Hamas is neutralized, the return of 58 remaining hostages—where a third are presumed alive—from the Oct. 7, 2023, incident that sparked the conflict.
Militants associated with Hamas were responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 people in the 2023 attack. Israel’s retaliatory actions have led to the deaths of around 54,000 Palestinians, per the Gaza Health Ministry. While more than half the casualties are women and children, the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in the casualty count.
Israel has proposed facilitating the voluntary relocation of over 2 million individuals from Gaza, a plan met with rejection by Palestinians and a significant portion of the international community.
Israel’s military campaign has resulted in extensive destruction across Gaza, displacing about 90% of the local populace who have been forced to flee multiple times.
Rescue Operations for Charred Remains
During the strike on a school in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood, dozens of individuals were injured, with Fahmy Awad, head of the ministry’s emergency service, reporting casualties that included a father and his five children. Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals in Gaza City confirmed the total number of casualties.
The school was hit thrice while occupants were asleep, causing fires to erupt and consuming their possessions. Videos circulated online depicting rescuers grappling with flames and recovering charred remains.
The military defended its actions, asserting that it targeted a militant command center within the school premises used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad for intelligence gathering. Israel attributes civilian casualties to Hamas due to its operations within residential zones.
In a separate incident, a strike on a residence in Jabalya, northern Gaza, led to the deaths of 16 family members, including women and children, as confirmed by Shifa Hospital.
Simultaneously, Palestinian militants launched three projectiles from Gaza, with two falling short within the territory and the third intercepted by the Israeli military.
Ultranationalists Rally in East Jerusalem, Breach UN Compound
Ultranationalist Israelis congregated in Jerusalem for an annual event commemorating Israel’s 1967 acquisition of the city’s eastern section. Some demonstrators chanted anti-Arab slogans and harassed Palestinian locals.
Amid nearly 600 days of conflict in Gaza, police closely monitored the event as participants engaged in exuberant activities. The rally risked exacerbating tensions prevailing in the volatile city.
Prior to the rally, a group of protesters, including an Israeli parliament member, forcibly entered a compound in east Jerusalem belonging to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, despite Israeli restrictions. The compound has largely remained unoccupied since staff were advised to vacate in January due to security concerns. The U.N. asserts the compound’s protection under international law.
Reporting by Magdy from Cairo. Contributions to this report by Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem.
