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Human rights

Israel's Aid Distribution in Gaza Sparks War Crime Allegations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Desperate and hungry Gazans, including women, children, and older people, continue to face inhumane choices between starving to death or risking being killed while trying to access food from controversial new aid hubs in Gaza. The OHCHR has condemned Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism, citing its contradiction with international standards on aid distribution. At least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch food from these hubs, which are associated with confusion and shooting. The situation has led to scores of people being killed and injured every day, and humanitarian operations of sufficient scale are not facilitated, leaving unaddressed the critical needs of those who have so far survived.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch food from new aid hubs in Gaza, a likely war crime.
  • The OHCHR has condemned Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism, citing its contradiction with international standards on aid distribution.
  • The conflict has led to scores of people being killed and injured every day, with humanitarian operations of sufficient scale not facilitated.
  • Women, children, and older people, as well as those with disabilities, continue to face multiple challenges accessing food in Gaza.
  • Looting of aid convoys is now commonplace in Gaza, resulting in most vulnerable individuals being unable to access aid.
  • To date, at least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in incidents associated with the non-UN aid hubs and looting.
  • The UN and other aid providers still function in Gaza but are reliant on the Israeli authorities to facilitate their missions.
  • Only eight out of 16 requests for humanitarian operations were approved on Saturday and Sunday, hindering the tracking of water and fuel, provision of nutrition services, and retrieval of bodies.
  • OCHA's Head of Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall, described the situation as "weaponized hunger," "forced displacement," and "a death sentence for people just trying to survive."
  • Telecommunications have been restored across Gaza, but without urgent fuel deliveries, they "will go down again very soon."
  • The fuel crisis is impacting emergency rooms, power ambulances, water desalination and pumping stations, and access to the Nasser Medical Complex.

Statistics:

  • At least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch food from new aid hubs in Gaza.
  • Over 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in incidents associated with the non-UN aid hubs and looting.
  • Only 8 out of 16 requests for humanitarian operations were approved on Saturday and Sunday.
  • The conflict has led to scores of people being killed and injured every day.
  • 93 people have been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the few remaining aid convoys of the UN and other aid partners still operating in Gaza.
  • At least 27 May is the date when the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operating on select hubs.

Sources:

  • OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Keetan
  • UN aid coordination office, OCHA
  • Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the Information Service at UN Geneva
  • OCHA's Head of Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall
  • India Blooms

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