At least 47 people were wounded—mostly by Israeli gunfire—during violent chaos at a newly opened aid distribution center in Gaza, a senior UN official reported Wednesday.
The incident occurred Tuesday in Rafah, southern Gaza, as thousands of desperate Palestinians swarmed the facility operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to AFP journalists. The unrest erupted as Israel rolled out a new aid delivery system that excludes UN agencies.
This marks one of the first major disturbances since Israel partially eased its near-total blockade on Gaza, imposed March 2, which had plunged the territory into severe shortages of food and medicine.
“Most injuries were from gunshots, and based on our information, the fire came from the IDF,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories, during a briefing in Geneva. He cautioned that the toll could rise as investigations continue.
The Israeli military acknowledged troops fired “warning shots outside the compound” but claimed control was quickly restored.
The GHF, which coordinates aid with Israel but excludes Palestinian stakeholders, has drawn sharp criticism. The UN and major aid groups refuse to work with it, citing concerns over neutrality and safety.
“Yesterday’s events clearly show the risks of this distribution model,” Sunghay said, reiterating warnings about bypassing established humanitarian channels.
The violence underscores growing desperation in Gaza as aid systems fracture—raising fears of further clashes if distribution remains contested.
