Tension escalated in southern Gaza on Tuesday as crowds of desperate Palestinians overran a newly established food distribution center operated by a U.S.-backed organization, prompting warning shots from nearby Israeli forces and injuries to at least three individuals. The incident, marked by chaos and confusion, underscores the humanitarian crisis unfolding amid Gaza’s deepening blockade and mounting famine conditions.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the group managing the hub, opened the site just one day prior outside Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. The center was set up to help alleviate severe food shortages in the enclave, where a nearly three-month-long Israeli siege has left much of the population teetering on the edge of starvation.
However, the operation quickly unraveled. On the second day, thousands of Palestinians — including children, women, and the elderly — flocked from overcrowded tent encampments along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, trekking miles on foot in search of desperately needed food.
According to eyewitnesses, it wasn’t long before frustration turned into chaos. “People stormed the place. They broke down fences and poured in,” said Ahmed Abu Taha, one of the residents who attempted to receive aid. “There was no order. It was chaos. People were panicked.”
As the crowd surged forward, gunshots rang out in the distance. Witnesses reported seeing military helicopters overhead and hearing tank fire from the direction of Israeli army positions. Thick smoke rose from the area, signaling the impact of one of the fired rounds. While a few managed to secure boxes filled with basic supplies like flour, sugar, pasta, and tehini, most left with nothing.
“It was terrifying,” said Saleh Abu Najjar, another aid seeker. “I heard a tank firing from the east, and people started screaming and running. The situation was very dangerous and people were frightened.”
The Israeli military confirmed that troops stationed near the aid distribution site had fired warning shots “outside the center” after crowds became uncontrollable. “Control over the situation was established,” the statement read, without providing further details.
While no fatalities were officially confirmed, multiple local sources reported at least three Palestinians injured in the melee.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been greenlit by Israel to oversee aid efforts in Gaza despite objections from the United Nations and other global humanitarian bodies, issued a statement defending its handling of the situation. The organization attributed the disruption to the overwhelming number of Palestinians arriving at the site, saying their teams followed safety protocols by retreating temporarily.
“Our field team followed GHF security procedures, falling back to avoid confrontation, and resumed operations once it was safe to do so,” said a spokesperson for the group, speaking anonymously in accordance with the organization’s rules. “No shots were fired by GHF staff or contractors. Our priority is the preservation of life — which is exactly what happened.”
GHF relies on armed private contractors to secure both its supply transports and distribution hubs. The site in Rafah is particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to the Morag Corridor, a strategic swath of land dividing Rafah from northern Gaza, where the Israeli military maintains a strong presence.
The establishment of GHF as the central aid distributor has drawn sharp criticism from international aid groups, many of whom question the organization’s capacity and neutrality. The U.N. has warned that bypassing established humanitarian systems undermines coordination and can lead to dangerous scenarios — such as the one witnessed on Tuesday.
“This is exactly why we advocate for coordinated humanitarian access through recognized agencies,” said a humanitarian official with knowledge of Gaza operations, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What we’re seeing are desperate people placed in volatile environments without adequate safeguards.”
Humanitarian experts say Gaza’s food crisis has reached catastrophic levels. According to recent reports, nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are experiencing severe food insecurity, with hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine. With most of the territory’s infrastructure destroyed and basic services crippled, food distribution has become a logistical nightmare — further complicated by security risks and restrictions on aid delivery.
Tuesday’s chaos is the latest flashpoint in an increasingly dire situation, as Gaza remains under siege and civilians continue to pay the price. Although GHF resumed operations after the disorder subsided, questions remain about the sustainability and safety of aid efforts in such a volatile environment.
For residents like Abu Taha, the hope of securing even the most basic food items feels more like a gamble than a guarantee. “We’re starving. People are walking hours for a bag of flour,” he said. “We don’t know who to trust or where to go next.”
Meanwhile, as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire and broader humanitarian access, scenes like those in Rafah are becoming more common — and more dangerous. Unless a coordinated, protected aid corridor is established, observers warn that similar episodes of unrest will likely increase in frequency and intensity.
With the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation now at the center of controversy and public scrutiny, both its effectiveness and its safety protocols are under the microscope. Whether it can rise to meet the desperate needs of a starving population — without becoming a flashpoint for further violence — remains to be seen.
