KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians face deadly challenges each day as they attempt to secure food supplies amidst ongoing violence and increasing lawlessness.
Israeli troops have opened fire on crowds that venture into designated military zones, all while thieves lay in wait to ambush the fortunate individuals who manage to obtain food.
Desperation drives families into a perilous competition for survival, urging them to risk their lives for basic necessities.
Jamil Atili, a weary father of 13, shared his disheartening experience after attempting to gather food at a center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli-backed contractor.
After facing a knife wound on his cheek during the chaos and suffering pepper spray from a contractor guard, Atili returned home empty-handed, his heart heavy with despair.
“I have nothing to feed my children,” he lamented, tears welling in his eyes.
Israel recently began allowing limited food supplies into Gaza after a complete halt of ten weeks, yet United Nations officials indicate that the quantity remains insufficient to avert starvation.
Most supplies are directed to GHF, which operates four food distribution points located within Israeli military zones, while minimal assistance trickles down to the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations.
Both aid distribution systems are overwhelmed and chaotic, marked by Israeli gunfire towards individuals trying to access the GHF centers, resulting in many casualties, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Additionally, overwhelming crowds often strip U.N. truck convoys of supplies, leading to dire conflicts. Just this week, reports indicated that over fifty individuals lost their lives when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds waiting for food near military zones.
Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, voiced her concern, stating, “I don’t see how it can get any worse, because it is already apocalyptic. But somehow it does get worse.”
In response to the violence, Israel maintains that its forces have only discharged warning shots at those approaching their positions near the GHF centers.
However, eyewitness accounts from Palestinians contest this, asserting that soldiers routinely fire to deter movement beyond designated areas or when people stray from military-ordered paths through the zones.
Palestinians report enduring relentless gunfire from tanks and drones while making the treacherous journey to the aid centers.
Regarding operational conduct, the Israeli military stated that its strategies are supported by a systematic learning process and that they are evaluating potential safety measures like fences and signage.
GHF has also attempted to distance itself from the violence, asserting through a spokesperson that incidents occur when aid-seekers approach before designated opening times or attempt shortcuts.
The foundation is reportedly modifying its schedules to ensure that distribution occurs during daylight hours for improved safety.
Israel is promoting GHF as a replacement for the U.N.-led aid network, alleging that Hamas reappropriates a significant amount of aid meant for Gaza citizens.
The U.N. has disputed such claims vehemently.
The treacherous trek to GHF centers requires thousands of people to walk several miles, with many of the distribution points located within the southern region beyond the city of Rafah.
As they enter zones controlled by the Israeli military, the danger escalates significantly for those waiting in line for aid.
Mohammed Saqer, a father of three who has undertaken the journey multiple times, described an incident where tanks fired over the heads of desperate crowds aimed at receiving food.
In a chilling comparison, he likened the situation to the dystopian show ‘Squid Game,’ where participants risk their lives in pursuit of a prize.
“Just raising your head might mean death,” he recounted, highlighting the dire circumstances under which they operate.
During one trip, Saqer and other aid-seekers witnessed a young man shot in the back, initially assumed to be dead, yet he was still alive with a weak pulse when Saqer checked for signs of life.
Following this grim discovery, the group carried him to safety, despite their own need for food assistance.
Once the center finally opened, it triggered a chaotic mad dash as crowds surged forward in search of aid.
Saqer recounted the mayhem, witnessing multiple people injured in the frenzy, with some reaching out for help as they lay on the ground bleeding.
In another instance, Omar al-Hobi described similar harrowing scenes during his attempts to obtain food.
Despite returning empty-handed on two occasions, he managed to secure a pack of lentils during his third visit.
On his fourth attempt, fueled by the urgency to provide for his pregnant wife and three children, al-Hobi braved the chaos once again.
Under bombardment from tanks, he and other individuals inched their way toward the supply drop, witnessing horrific injuries and bloodshed around him.
One man fell to the ground, appearing lifeless, yet al-Hobi knew he had to press on for his family’s survival.
Taking shelter in a nearby greenhouse, he heard the announcement that the center was open and sprinted towards the stacked supplies.
At the distribution point, food boxes were strewn across the area surrounded by makeshift barriers, as thousands clamored to grab what they could in a frenzied scramble.
Speed is essential; once supplies run out, those who arrive late are vulnerable to robbery by others exhausted from the same desperate pursuit.
After quickly tearing open a box, Saqer loaded items like juice, chickpeas, lentils, and cooking oil into his sack before retreating toward safety.
With just one way in and out of the center, Saqer knew he was at risk of being shot by Israeli troops if they were in a hostile mood.
“Everything depends on the soldiers’ mood,” he noted grimly.
Heba Jouda shared a horrifying account of witnessing attackers beating a young boy for food while departing one of the centers.
In another instance, an elderly man who clung to his supplies in fear was stabbed by robbers who left him bleeding and crying.
Al-Hobi described feeling trampled in the chaos as individuals rushed for boxes.
He managed to snag a bag of rice and a packet of macaroni, although much of the flour ended up spoiled due to the frantic conditions.
Despite the continued danger and chaos surrounding them, al-Hobi returned to his family tent outside Khan Younis where his wife, Anwaar Saleh, vowed to ration the precious supplies for as long as possible.
“We hope he doesn’t have to go back. His life is the most important thing,” she expressed.
Al-Hobi continues to grapple with the trauma of his experiences and the harsh realities faced by those around him.
The survival instinct driving individuals to compete for scarce resources simultaneously breeds a heartbreaking selfishness, he said.
“No one will show you mercy these days. Everybody fends for themselves.”
image source from：npr
