Greater than 700 Palestinians have been killed attempting to get meals within the Gaza Strip over the previous few weeks, based on new figures from the Gaza Well being Ministry, spurring renewed condemnation of a contentious United States and Israeli-backed support scheme.
The Well being Ministry mentioned on Saturday that at the very least 743 Palestinians have been killed and greater than 4,891 others have been injured whereas in search of help at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution websites.
The GHF, which started working within the bombarded Palestinian enclave in late Could, has drawn widespread criticism amid multiple reports that its contractors in addition to Israeli forces have opened hearth on support seekers.
“The tragedy is that that is once more a conservative studying of casualties who have been at these distribution factors, ready for meals parcels,” Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud mentioned of the ministry’s world affairs figures.
Reporting from Gaza Metropolis, Mahmoud mentioned the assaults on support seekers come as Palestinian households are determined to feed their households amid dire shortages brought on by Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
“Individuals are going hungry. Individuals are rationing provides. Plenty of households will not be consuming. Moms right here skip meals as a way to present for his or her kids,” he mentioned.
Earlier this week, a report by The Related Press information company quoted American contractors who mentioned stay ammunition and stun grenades have been fired at Palestinian civilians in search of support at GHF distribution factors.
Two unnamed US contractors informed AP that closely armed workers members seemed to be doing no matter they wished.
The GHF denied the information company’s reporting as “categorically false” and mentioned it takes “the security and safety of [its] websites extraordinarily significantly”.
The administration of US President Donald Trump additionally has stood by the GHF, with a State Division spokesperson telling reporters on Wednesday that the group is the “one entity that has gotten meals and support into the Gaza Strip”.
In late June, the Trump administration pledged $30m in direct funding for the organisation.
On Saturday, the GHF mentioned two US staff at one among its websites in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis have been injured when grenades have been thrown at them on the finish of meals distribution. “The injured Individuals are receiving medical therapy and are in secure situation,” the group mentioned.
It was not instantly clear who was chargeable for the assault.
Main humanitarian and human rights teams have demanded the fast closure of the GHF, which they accused of “forcing two million folks into overcrowded, militarized zones the place they face every day gunfire and mass casualties”.
Amnesty Worldwide has described the group’s operations as an “inhumane and lethal militarized scheme”.
“All of the proof gathered, together with testimonies which Amnesty Worldwide is receiving from victims and witnesses, recommend that the GHF was designed in order to placate worldwide considerations whereas constituting one other software of Israel’s genocide,” Amnesty mentioned.
Nonetheless, confronted with dire shortages of meals, water and different humanitarian provides beneath Israel’s blockade, many Palestinians in Gaza say they haven’t any alternative however to hunt help from the group, regardless of the dangers.
“I used to be pressured to go to the help distribution centre just because my youngsters had not eaten for 3 days in a row,” Majid Abu Laban, a Palestinian man who was wounded in an assault at a GHF website, informed Al Jazeera.
“We attempt to idiot our kids by all means, however they’re ravenous,” Abu Laban mentioned.
“So I made a decision to threat my life and head to [an aid distribution point] at Netzarim,” he mentioned, referring to an Israeli military-established hall south of Gaza Metropolis.
“I took the highway at midnight hoping to get some meals. As crowds rushed in, Israeli forces fired artillery shells at us. Within the chaos, everybody was simply attempting to outlive.”