Thousands of Palestinians flooded a newly opened aid distribution center in southern Gaza, operated by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), overwhelming the facility just a day after its launch. The center, backed by the U.S. and Israel, aims to bypass the United Nations in delivering desperately needed aid—but it has sparked backlash from humanitarian groups and descended into chaos on the ground.
Footage captured near the Rafah compound showed masses of people trampling fences and berms to access the site. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and disorder, including gunfire and Israeli military helicopters firing flares. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed warning shots were fired to control the crowd.
“It’s a humiliating experience,” one Palestinian man told BBC Arabic. “People are exhausted—willing to do anything, even risk their lives—to find food and feed their children.”
The GHF, which employs armed American contractors and operates under the protection of Israeli troops, said its team temporarily retreated due to the overwhelming crowds. It claimed to have distributed the equivalent of 462,000 meals in partnership with local NGOs, despite citing delays imposed by alleged Hamas blockades—an accusation Hamas denies.
The UN and major international aid agencies have rejected GHF’s approach, citing concerns over neutrality, forced displacement, and the politicization of food aid. UN officials have called the images from Rafah “heartbreaking,” reiterating that a detailed, principled aid distribution plan is already in place but is being hindered by insecurity and lack of coordination with Israeli forces.
Critics say GHF’s system excludes vulnerable populations, conditions aid on political objectives, and sets a dangerous precedent for global humanitarian operations. On Sunday, GHF’s executive director Jake Wood resigned, citing the group’s failure to adhere to core humanitarian principles. The board responded by accusing critics of protecting the status quo at the expense of actual aid delivery.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an expanded military campaign across Gaza, along with a temporary easing of the blockade to allow limited humanitarian access. Despite reports that over 665 trucks carrying food and medical supplies have entered Gaza, over 400 remain undelivered due to logistical and security challenges.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The UN-backed IPC warns that half a million people in Gaza are at imminent risk of starvation, as Israel’s offensive—launched after the deadly October 7 Hamas attack—shows no sign of slowing. Over 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to local health authorities.