The aid initiative, backed by Israel and involving U.S. agencies, faces criticism from UN and NGOs over claims of “militarized relief efforts.”
The U.S.-based Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza, an aid organization established with the backing of Israel, began distributing food packages on Tuesday at two distribution points in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli military.
“As part of the gradual opening of the distribution centers, two sites located in Tal al Sultan and the Morag corridor in the Rafah area began operating today, distributing food packages to thousands of families in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
Video footage shared by Palestinian media showed the contents of the food boxes: three packs of pasta, two one-kilogram sacks of rice, a sack of red lentils, and cans of tomatoes and chickpeas, among other supplies.
Humanitarian organizations working in Gaza told EFE that three international agencies — identified as IHRC, RAHMA, and Multifaith Alliance (the latter two American) — are contributing to the food distribution efforts. They reportedly have a warehouse with approximately 24,000 boxes at the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza.
“We believe they simply agreed to cooperate, just as many organizations have been asked to do (by Israel) in recent weeks. Most of us, however, have refused,” one aid source said.
The United Nations and various NGOs operating in Gaza have firmly rejected participating in this Israel-promoted system, which they argue represents a “militarization of humanitarian aid.”
Sources also noted that Safe Research Solutions (SRS), the American security firm that previously oversaw the crossings between northern and southern Gaza during the ceasefire, is present at the distribution points to ensure the process.
“The centers are managed by international aid organizations secured by a U.S. civilian security company in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military’s statement added.
According to the army, four distribution points have been set up in Gaza in recent weeks, although details on when the remaining two will open were not provided.
Images released on Tuesday showed long lines of thousands of people walking toward the distribution points along the coastal areas. Many displaced Gazans are currently sheltering in Mawasi, a zone near the southwestern beaches of the enclave, close to these newly established aid centers.
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