Gaza: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid organisation reportedly backed by both the United States and Israel, has announced a continued suspension of its aid distribution operations in Gaza, following a one-day closure on Wednesday. The group stated that its facilities will remain shut until ongoing maintenance and repair work is completed.
In a social media statement, GHF said its distribution centers would not reopen Thursday morning as originally anticipated, and it would announce new operating hours once work is finalized. The organization also advised Palestinians seeking assistance to adhere strictly to Israeli military-designated routes to ensure their safety.
The Israeli military echoed the warning, declaring GHF aid distribution areas and access roads as “combat zones” during the reorganization period. No updated security guidance has been provided by Israel as the aid sites remain shut for a second consecutive day.
The pause in aid operations comes in the wake of a deadly series of Israeli assaults near GHF aid distribution points. The latest, on Tuesday, saw Israeli forces open fire near a GHF site in Rafah, southern Gaza, killing at least 27 people and injuring around 90, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
This incident follows a string of similar attacks over the previous two days. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and more than 150 wounded when Israeli troops opened fire on large crowds awaiting aid near the same Rafah site. Another person was reportedly shot dead near the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza. The violence continued into Monday, with three more fatalities and approximately 30 injuries reported in Rafah.
While the Israeli military has denied targeting civilians, claiming troops only fired warning shots at those straying from authorized routes or behaving in a manner that threatened soldiers, eyewitnesses and medical reports suggest otherwise. An army spokesperson insisted shots were aimed only at individuals posing a perceived threat.
Despite mounting evidence, GHF has dismissed claims of mass casualties near its centers as "outright fabrications," asserting it has found no confirmation of such incidents at or around its distribution points.
However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) contradicted this assertion, confirming it treated 179 people injured in Sunday’s violence alone — 21 of whom were already dead upon arrival. The ICRC reported that women and children were among the victims, most of whom suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. The organisation warned that Gaza is now enduring an unprecedented rate of mass casualty events.
The spate of deadly incidents has triggered global condemnation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an independent investigation and accountability for those responsible. Similarly, the UK’s Middle East Minister, Hamish Falconer, labelled Israel’s tactics “inhumane” and urged an “immediate and independent” probe into the killings.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. On Wednesday alone, 48 more people were killed in strikes across the enclave, including 18 civilians sheltering in a tent camp in Khan Younis, Gaza’s Civil Defence said.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 54,400 Palestinians have died and more than 124,000 have been wounded since Israel launched its offensive in October 2023.
Despite the escalating humanitarian crisis, the United States again vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for unrestricted aid access and an immediate, unconditional ceasefire across Gaza.
