Israel – Gaza War

Israeli Troops Fire Near Starving Crowds as Gaza Aid Operation Breaks Down in Rafah

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Israeli forces fired warning shots on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Palestinians surged into a food aid centre in Rafah, operated by the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The incident unfolded amid severe food shortages caused by an 11-week blockade, leaving the GHF unable to control the crowd or sustain its aid operations.

The GHF, selected by Israel to replace established aid networks, was overwhelmed on only its second day of operation. Crowds of hungry civilians breached fences and overran the Secure Distribution Site (SDS), prompting the foundation’s staff to withdraw for safety.

In a public statement, the GHF admitted it had temporarily abandoned the site “to avoid casualties” and allow limited aid to be distributed during the chaos.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had fired warning shots near the distribution centre to regain order.

Images circulating on social media showed fences torn down and people rushing toward aid supplies. These scenes, though not independently verified, highlight the desperation of Gaza’s population amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

The United Nations and major humanitarian organizations had already refused to work with the GHF, warning that its lack of experience and ties to Israeli authorities made it unfit to operate in Gaza.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric called the situation “heartbreaking”, saying that the small trickle of food reaching Gaza is far from sufficient. He emphasized the need for a “meaningful scale-up” of humanitarian operations, warning of looming famine.

According to the GHF, only 8,000 food boxes were distributed on Tuesday—enough for about 44,000 people for three days, representing just 2% of Gaza’s population. Many of the most vulnerable residents, including the elderly and disabled, are unable to reach the distribution sites or carry heavy aid parcels.