The Israeli-backed private firm in control of aid distribution in Gaza has closed both of its sites due to “excessive crowding”
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced that Secure Distribution Sites (SDS) 1 and 2 would shut early today because the sheer number of people arriving “made it unsafe to proceed”.
In a post on its Arabic Facebook page, which is used to make announcements to the Strip’s population, it urged people to stay aware for their own safety.
It also asked that civilians wait until the foundation sends out a notification that its sites are opening before travelling to receive aid.
However, it emphasised that “at no point did violence occur” during its operations today.
Security at GHF sites has come under scrutiny this week after a series of violent incidents were reported near SDS 1 in southern Khan Younis.
The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health claimed that more than 60 people died and hundreds were wounded after gunfire at the centre on Sunday.
Both the ministry and the international media claimed that Israel was responsible but the IDF has denied that any of its soldiers opened fire on civilians.
The army also released drone footage of masked gunmen, who it suggested were linked to Hamas, firing on the crowds.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, the IDF confirmed that soldiers fired warning shots at a group of “suspects”, who it claimed had departed from the pre-approved access route and ventured into a combat zone.
A military spokesperson said it was aware of reports of casualties and was investigating.
Meanwhile GHF said it distributed 8,160 boxes of food before the closure this morning, with 9 million meals supplied since it began operations on May 26.
Operations at the two centres will resume tomorrow, with a further two scheduled to open in the coming weeks.
All of the sites sit within Israeli-controlled areas in southern Gaza but have dedicated access corridors running down from the north, allowing civilians to travel safely along routes secured by the IDF.
The aim of the scheme is to cut Hamas out of the supply of aid and isolate its fighters in the north, making them easier for the IDF to target.
It comes after Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, reported that the Netanyahu government had set aside NIS 700 million to fund the GHF, earmarked for the "defence establishment”, despite previously claiming it would not have financial involvement in the plan.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) denied the report, saying: “The State of Israel is not funding humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
The PMO did, however, admit to another Kan report suggesting that Israel was arming ISIS-linked militias in Gaza to fight Hamas.
According to Channel 12, the secret transfer of weapons to the groups was a “project of the Shin Bet and its head, coordinated and approved by the prime minister, defence minister and IDF chief of staff.”
