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Soldiers

Israeli Troops Open Fire on Palestinians in Gaza as Food Crisis Deepens

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least one person and wounding 48, after a new system for distributing food aid to the besieged territory broke down. The Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, responsible for the distribution, was unable to control the crowds, leading to a chaotic and deadly scene. The incident highlights the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the World Food Programme has reported that nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished in the next 11 months.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least one civilian was killed and 48 wounded when Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians in Gaza after the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation lost control of its distribution centre.
  • The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, authorized by Israel to take over food distribution operations, was reportedly not prepared, with staff at one point forced to abandon their posts.
  • The UN and other humanitarian organizations have rejected the new system, saying it would not be able to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.3 million people and would allow Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population.
  • The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, described the new distribution model as a waste of resources and a distraction from "atrocities".
  • The World Food Programme has reported that nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished in the next 11 months.
  • The ongoing Israeli blockade has led to a severe shortage of food and cooking gas, with bakeries operated by the UN World Food Programme shutting due to a lack of cooking gas.
  • The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's director, Jake Wood, resigned on Sunday, citing the group's inability to adhere to humanitarian principles.
  • Ronit Paluch-Elhanan, a Shin Bet agent and surveillance expert, was quoted as saying that the new distribution model was a "divide and conquer" strategy designed to control the population.

Statistics:

  • At least 1 person killed, 48 wounded
  • Nearly 71,000 children under 5 expected to be acutely malnourished in the next 11 months
  • 14,100 cases of severe malnutrition expected in the next 11 months
  • 2.3 million people in Gaza are in need of food aid
  • 500,000 people in Gaza face starvation
  • 11 weeks of siege and blockade have devastated the Palestinian territory

Sources:

  • United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  • World Food Programme
  • Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
  • The Guardian
  • BBC News
  • Al Jazeera
  • Human Rights Watch
  • ActionAid

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