The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees warned that “the clock is ticking towards famine” in Gaza, criticizing the new US-backed aid distribution model as a misuse of resources that distracts from ongoing “atrocities.”
“This model is a waste of resources and diverts attention from the real issues. We already have an effective aid distribution system in place,” Philippe Lazzarini asserted while in Japan.
“The humanitarian community in Gaza, including UNRWA, is prepared and capable of reaching those in need,” he stated.
“However, as the clock ticks towards famine, we must allow humanitarian efforts to carry out their life-saving work immediately,” he added.
Chaos erupted as thousands of Palestinians surged into the center in Rafah, resulting in 47 injuries while trying to access food at GHF distribution sites, according to the United Nations human rights office.
“Forty-seven individuals sustained injuries due to gunfire,” Ajith Sunghay, Head of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, informed reporters in Geneva, citing information from local partners.
The gunfire originated from the Israel Defence Force, he explained.
The UN human rights office did not specify the exact location of the incidents.
The Israeli military stated that soldiers fired warning shots into the air, insisting they did not target civilians.
“We are reviewing the information provided by the UN. As of now, we do not have any details concerning the injured civilians,” said an Israeli military spokesperson regarding the reported injuries.
Yesterday, thousands of Palestinians sought assistance from a US-backed foundation in Rafah.
This incident occurred just days after a partial relaxation of the aid blockade Israel imposed on March 2, which has resulted in severe shortages of food and medical supplies.
“We witnessed shocking images yesterday of hungry individuals pushing against barriers, desperately seeking food. It was chaotic, degrading, and unsafe,” Mr. Lazzarini remarked in Tokyo.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged a moment of “loss of control” at the distribution center, while a senior military official still deemed the distribution a “success.”
The US announced the new aid distribution model in early May, effectively sidelining the United Nations.
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Israel has facilitated GHF’s aid distribution efforts in Gaza, stating its objective is to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas.
However, GHF has faced accusations of helping Israel achieve its military goals while excluding Palestinians, bypassing the UN framework, and failing to uphold humanitarian principles.
“The aid distribution model proposed by Israel does not align with core humanitarian principles. It will deny a significant portion of Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable, access to urgently required assistance,” Mr. Lazzarini stated.
Smoke rises from a residential area following an Israeli attack on the Jabalia Refugee Camp yesterday.
According to Gaza rescuers, 16 individuals were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight across the besieged territory.
Among the deceased were nine members of the family of photojournalist Osama al-Arbeed, who perished in a strike on their northern Gaza home, as reported by civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal.
He added that Mr. Arbeed sustained injuries, noting his role as a videographer and editor at a local film production company.
Additionally, six other family members were killed in a strike in central Gaza that injured 15 others, including children.
Another casualty was reported near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Medical staff were evacuated from Al-Awda Hospital in Tel al-Zater, northern Gaza, to its branch in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza following evacuation warnings issued by Israeli forces.
Health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 3,822 individuals have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire ended on March 18, raising the overall death toll from Israeli assaults to 53,977 since October 2023.
Approximately 1,218 individuals were killed during a Hamas attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, according to an AFP tally based on official statistics.
Militants also abducted 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli military claims are deceased.
