GHF’s food aid distribution system has been marred by near-daily scenes of chaos and killing since it was implemented in May with Israeli and US support.
Huge crowds are forced to walk long distances into Israeli military zones, entering fenced sites that are surrounded by private security contractors and Israeli troops. Palestinian men mostly take on the risk, jostling to secure a box of food for their family.
For Gaza’s two million people, there are just four GHF distribution sites but typically no more than two open on any given day.
On Thursday, the sisters Mary and Khawla set off early for the aid point in the southern Rafah area. By the time they arrived, the scene was already chaos.
“There was a huge crowd of women and the place seemed out of control, they couldn’t offload and distribute the aid,” Khawla said. “They started spraying the women with pepper spray, then they brought stun grenades and started throwing them on the women to force them backwards.”
The sisters got split up in the mayhem. Khawla’s clothes were full of pepper spray and so she called her sister, agreeing to meet at their brother’s house.
Shortly after she called again, feeling something wasn’t right.
“This time a stranger picked up, he told me the owner of the phone was shot and was being taken to the Red Cross [field hospital],” said Khawla.
“I called again and this time I was told she was shot in the head. I ran like crazy and called again, but this time I was told the owner of this phone had been killed.”