Thousands of starving Palestinians raided a United Nations food warehouse in central Gaza on Wednesday, with the World Food Programme (WFP) reporting at least two fatalities in the chaos.
The incident comes as Israel and the UN trade accusations over who is responsible for the worsening famine-like conditions in the besieged enclave.
Aid Breakdown Amid Starvation Fears
After an 18-month war and a two-month blockade, Gaza faces catastrophic hunger, with one in five people at risk of starvation, according to food security experts. Although limited aid has recently entered the territory, distribution remains severely restricted.
AFP footage captured crowds breaking into a WFP storage facility in Deir Al-Balah, grabbing sacks of flour and other supplies as gunfire erupted nearby. The WFP confirmed the breach in a statement, saying, “Hordes of desperate people stormed our Al-Ghafari warehouse in search of food meant for upcoming distributions.” Initial reports suggested two deaths and multiple injuries, though details remain unverified.
Israel and UN Clash Over Aid Distribution
Israel accused the UN of obstructing aid efforts, while UN officials insisted they were working within strict Israeli-imposed limits. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that aid was entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing and a new U.S.-backed mechanism—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—which bypasses traditional UN channels.
Danon claimed the UN was “threatening and intimidating” NGOs cooperating with GHF, a charge the UN denied. Meanwhile, the UN reported 47 injuries on Tuesday when Palestinians mobbed a GHF aid site, with Palestinian medical sources confirming at least one death.
Ceasefire Hopes Fade as War Hits 600 Days
As the conflict reached its 600th day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the offensive had “reshaped the Middle East,” claiming the deaths of tens of thousands of militants, including Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, reportedly killed in an airstrike earlier this month.
In Washington, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed cautious optimism about a potential ceasefire deal, but Gazans remain skeptical. “After 600 days, nothing has changed—just more death and bombing,” said Bassam Daloul, 40. “Hoping for a ceasefire now feels like a cruel dream.”
Protests and Hostage Families Demand Action
In Tel Aviv, hundreds marked the exact time of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack with a protest calling for a truce. Relatives of remaining hostages also rallied, with freed captive Arbel Yehud warning, “When Israel rejects deals, it endangers the hostages’ lives.”
According to Israeli figures, 57 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom are presumed dead. Hamas’s initial attack killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, while Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began.
UN Rejects Compromise on Aid Principles
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric reiterated the organization’s refusal to cooperate with GHF, citing humanitarian principles. Despite Israel approving 800 aid trucks last week, fewer than 500 entered Gaza, underscoring the severe bottlenecks in relief efforts.
With no end to the fighting in sight and famine spreading, Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen.
