Tel Aviv: The Israeli military announced the establishment of four humanitarian aid distribution centers in Gaza, asserting that these centers are operated by international aid organizations and secured by an unnamed US civilian security firm. The military did not disclose the names of the aid organizations involved in this operation.
According to Anadolu Agency, the centers were set up in recent weeks, and their establishment was claimed to be in line with directives from the political echelon and coordinated closely with the United States. A map released by the Israeli military shows that three of these centers are located along the Morag Axis, which separates Rafah from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, while the fourth is situated at the Netzarim Corridor, dividing northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.
The Israeli military stated that two of the centers, located in Tel al-Sultan and the Morag Corridor in the Rafah area, began operations on Tuesday, distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip. This process was reportedly part of a dialogue and cooperation effort with the IDF, Southern Command, COGAT, international aid organizations, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and the American civilian security company.
Tel Aviv's initiative to use the US-backed GHF for aid distribution in Gaza's "buffer zones" has bypassed the UN and international relief agencies. This has raised concerns among humanitarian actors who emphasize the need for large-scale, sustained access for meaningful relief efforts. Local authorities reported that several Palestinians were injured by Israeli army fire when Gazans stormed a US-backed aid distribution facility in Rafah.
The Gaza government media office criticized the Israeli occupation's plan for aid distribution in the buffer zone, labeling it a failure. They reported that Israeli forces fired upon thousands of starving Palestinians who rushed into the aid distribution facility. Following this incident, American workers associated with the GHF were evacuated from Rafah, as reported by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) highlighted the urgent need for between 500 and 600 aid trucks per day to meet Gaza's humanitarian demands. However, Israel has kept Gaza crossings closed to food, medical, and humanitarian aid since March 2, exacerbating the existing severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued its offensive against Gaza since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions against civilians in the enclave.