The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has criticized a new aid distribution model in Gaza, supported by the United States, calling it a “distraction from atrocities” occurring in the region.
This condemnation comes as violent scenes unfolded for a second day, with reports indicating that 10 Palestinians have lost their lives and 62 others have been injured while attempting to access aid in the besieged enclave, primarily at a distribution point in Rafah.
The Gaza Government Media Office stated that the Israeli forces “opened direct fire on hungry Palestinian civilians” as they gathered peacefully for aid, describing the event as a “heinous crime” driven by desperate need and extreme hunger.
Over the past few days, thousands of Palestinians have reportedly clambered over fences in a chaotic rush to reach humanitarian supplies offered by the newly created, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
In light of these disturbing incidents, Lazzarini expressed his concerns at a press conference in Tokyo, stating, “We have seen yesterday the shocking images of hungry people pushing against fences, desperate for food. It was chaotic, undignified and unsafe.”
He further emphasized, “I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities. We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose.”
With the humanitarian crisis intensifying, Lazzarini highlighted the urgency of allowing existing systems to deliver life-saving assistance. He pointed out that the situation is gravely deteriorating, noting, “The clock is ticking towards famine.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged that there had been a “loss of control momentarily” at the aid distribution point, but a senior military official claimed that despite the chaos, the distribution was in fact “a success.”
The Israeli government has facilitated the GHF’s operations, arguing that this model effectively prevents supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas.
However, the GHF has faced allegations that it aids Israeli military objectives while excluding many Palestinians, bypassing the established UN system and failing to adhere to essential humanitarian principles.
According to the GHF, it has distributed around 8,000 food boxes, which they claim translates to approximately 462,000 meals since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade of Gaza.
Despite the GHF’s claims, the UN and numerous international aid organizations have refrained from collaborating with the foundation, citing concerns that such actions undermine the principle of neutral and need-based humanitarian assistance.
Lazzarini remarked on this issue, saying, “The model of aid distribution proposed by Israel does not align with core humanitarian principles.”
He stressed that this new system would severely limit assistance to Gaza’s vulnerable population, stating, “It will deprive a large part of Gaza, the highly vulnerable people, of desperately needed assistance.”
He also highlighted the consequences of reducing the number of distribution sites, noting, “We used to have, before, 400 distribution places, centres in Gaza. With this new system, we are talking about three to four, maximum, distribution places.”
Lazzarini warned that this could potentially incite further displacement of people in a desperate search for humanitarian support.
As the flow of aid trickles back into Gaza, Israeli forces have maintained their offensive, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting that approximately 3,901 Palestinians have been killed since the collapse of a temporary ceasefire in mid-March.
On Wednesday, clashes persisted, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals early in the morning, following an Israeli strike on the residence of journalist Osama al-Arbid in the as-Saftawi area in northern Gaza.
Medical sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the death toll has risen, with at least 15 individuals killed across Gaza due to ongoing attacks since early Wednesday.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry disclosed that at least 3,822 individuals have died since the end of the ceasefire on March 18, contributing to an overall death toll in the conflict that now stands at 53,977, predominantly civilians.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/28/us-backed-gaza-aid-model-distraction-from-atrocities-unrwa-chief-says
