AhlulBayt News Agency: The Commissioner General of the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that newly established aid distribution sites, operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), have become “death traps” for starving civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Philippe Lazzarini made these remarks in a post on his X account on Sunday, following deadly Israeli attacks on aid distribution centers that killed dozens of Palestinians earlier in the day.
Lazzarini condemned the aid distribution model introduced by Israel and the US, describing it as “humiliating” and forcing thousands of starving people to walk for miles to a heavily bombarded area.
He stressed that aid distribution must be scaled and safe, emphasizing that this can only be achieved through the UN, including UNRWA.
The UNRWA chief also urged Israel to lift its siege on Gaza and allow unrestricted humanitarian access to prevent mass starvation, including among one million children.
“With competing narratives and disinformation campaigns in full gear, international media must be allowed into Gaza to independently report on the ongoing atrocities, including this morning’s heinous crime,” Lazzarini stated.
On Sunday morning, Israeli forces opened fire on a GHF site in Rafah, killing at least 40 people and injuring 150 others.
Shortly after, a Palestinian was killed in a shooting at a GHF aid distribution point near Gaza City, south of the Netzarim Corridor.
The US-backed aid sites began operations in Gaza last Monday. The next morning, Israeli forces fired on Palestinians gathering for aid, killing three and injuring dozens.
GHF opened a second site on Wednesday, the same day that Israeli forces again fired on aid seekers west of Rafah, killing at least six Palestinians.
Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that in less than a week, Israeli attacks on GHF sites had killed 50 people and wounded hundreds more.
Separately, the Gaza Ministry of Health stated that GHF aid sites had become “Israeli death traps,” serving as a mechanism for the forced displacement of Palestinians.
In a Telegram statement, the ministry reported that every Palestinian treated at hospitals following Sunday’s attack in Rafah suffered a gunshot wound to the head or chest, proving Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians.
Munir al-Barsh, Director General of Gaza’s Health Ministry, condemned the global silence regarding the massacres of starving Palestinians and warned of dire conditions at hospitals due to severe shortages of medical supplies.
He revealed that 3,000 trucks carrying essential medical supplies are currently stalled at the border, accusing Israel of deliberately spreading infectious diseases through its blockade.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened significantly since March 18, when Israel broke its ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Gaza is experiencing phase 5 famine, with nearly 71,000 children under five at risk of acute malnutrition.
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