Deadly Scramble for Aid in Gaza as Desperation Mounts
Civilians Killed and Wounded Amidst Chaotic Food Drops and Ground Distribution Points
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has spiraled into deadly chaos as desperate crowds converged on aid distribution points and airdrop zones Monday, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties. Witnesses and local health officials report dozens killed or injured as the territory edges closer to famine, nearly 22 months into the conflict.
Aid Deliveries Fall Short, Safety Concerns Rise
Israel’s ongoing blockade and military actions have severely hampered safe aid delivery, contributing to the dire situation. While Israel recently announced measures to increase aid flow, aid organizations deem them insufficient. The families of hostages held in Gaza have expressed fears of starvation affecting their loved ones, placing blame on Hamas.
Reports from witnesses, health officials, and the UN human rights office indicate that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while attempting to access food distribution sites and aid convoys. The Israeli military maintains it has only issued warning shots and disputes the reported casualty figures.
Airdrops Offer Risky Hope
Amidst growing international concern, several nations, including Canada, have resorted to airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, the UN and aid groups caution that these operations are costly and perilous for residents, delivering significantly less aid compared to land convoys.
Many of the airdropped food parcels have landed in the Mediterranean Sea or in designated “red zones” from which the Israeli military has ordered evacuations. In both scenarios, Palestinians risk their lives to retrieve essential supplies like flour.
Palestinians cheered as pallets of aid were parachuted over Zuweida in central Gaza. Associated Press footage showed a desperate scramble when the parcels hit the ground, with hundreds of people racing toward them. Fistfights broke out and some men wielded batons.
— Al Jazeera English (@ajenglish) June 3, 2024
On Monday, jubilant Palestinians in Zuweida, central Gaza, greeted parachuted aid pallets with cheers. Footage from the Associated Press depicted a frantic scramble upon the parcels’ descent, with hundreds of individuals rushing to secure them. The scene devolved into fistfights, with some men resorting to using batons.
“I wish they would deliver it through the [land] crossings,” expressed Rabah Rabah earlier, awaiting the airdrop. “This is inhuman.”
One parcel reportedly struck a tent housing displaced individuals, injuring a man who was subsequently hospitalized. His condition remains unknown.
Deadly Incidents Near Aid Entry Points
Late Sunday, at least 16 people perished near the Zikim Crossing, a primary aid entry point for northern Gaza, according to Shifa Hospital records in Gaza City. More than 130 individuals sustained injuries.
While the exact circumstances remain unclear, the crossing has been the site of several recent shootings, which witnesses and health officials attribute to Israeli forces. The military has not yet provided a statement.
In the Morag Corridor, a passage established by the Israeli military between Khan Younis and Rafah, at least 10 people were killed as thousands awaited aid trucks.
“The occupation forces shot many people in the head and in the back,” recounted Mohammed al-Masri, who was present in the crowd. He described witnessing four wounded individuals, one of whom remained motionless on the ground after young men attempted to reach the front of the distribution line.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving 10 bodies from the Morag incident. An additional five individuals killed near an aid site managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American contractor with Israeli backing, were also brought in.
The GHF stated that no violent incidents occurred at or near its facilities. It noted that a new UN route passes close to two of its southern sites, attracting large crowds for convoy unloading. GHF contractors have used pepper spray or fired warning shots on rare occasions to manage overwhelming crowds since establishing four sites in May.
“It’s a death trap”
Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza reported receiving eight bodies of individuals killed near a GHF site in the Netzarim Corridor, with another 50 people injured. Witnesses and health officials attributed the shootings to Israeli forces.
An Associated Press photograph captured a man carrying a deceased individual away from the site, as others transported bags of food.
“It’s like yesterday and the day before,” said Ayman Ruqab, a young Palestinian who had been unable to reach the site for three days. “It’s a death trap.”
The Israeli military commented that it fired warning shots at individuals who approached “in a manner that posed a threat to the troops,” without further clarification, and stated it was unaware of any casualties.
The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 people, according to Israeli figures. Fifty hostages remain in captivity, with an estimated 20 believed to be alive.
Israel’s subsequent military offensive has led to the deaths of over 60,900 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, with a significant majority being women and children. Israel has contested these figures but has not provided its own official count.
The ongoing conflict has had devastating consequences, leading the UN to estimate that 70% of Gaza’s population is displaced, seeking refuge in overcrowded and under-resourced shelters, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA, May 2024).
