Gazans lining up for food say supplies remain limited

TEL AVIV—A new aid system backed by Israel delivered more food in Gaza on Wednesday, but residents who lined up outside the distribution centers complained of limited supplies and disorder, one day after the effort was marred by scenes of chaos and looting.
Thousands of Palestinians desperate for food lined up outside two distribution centers in southern Gaza on Wednesday, despite concerns over security. Large crowds had overwhelmed one of the centers a day earlier and Israeli forces said they fired warning shots outside the compound. As the number of people surged after a slow start, witnesses said there was disorder and crowding as they heard about food running out.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private entity overseeing the new aid system, said that it was operating the two distribution sites in southern Gaza on Wednesday afternoon without unusual incidents. It has distributed approximately 14,550 boxes of food since it began operations on Monday, GHF said, but didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on supplies running out and disorder at the distribution sites on Wednesday.
Nizar Thabet, 37, who walked to one of the distribution sites near the Israeli-built Morag corridor in Rafah with his two hungry children, said he was able to get his hands on lentils, rice, and packs of pasta by asking others to give him some rather than receiving his own box.
Palestinians carrying supplies received from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
'Some boxes were opened—quantities were gone. I got food from others who hadn't eaten in 20 days," he said. Many others left empty-handed because supplies ran out, he said.
Israel was pressured to end its more than two-month blockade on Gaza, which it says was aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. During this period, no aid, medicine or fuel entered the enclave, leading to widespread hunger, according to residents and aid groups. The humanitarian crisis led to an international outcry, including from the U.S., Israel's close ally, which pushed Israel to lift the blockade earlier this month.
But little aid has since reached Gazans, according to residents, and many are surviving on just one meal a day, mainly bread and canned goods.
According to the new plan, aid is to be handed out directly to Gazan families at distribution sites with the help of private security companies, to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid, as Israel alleges. Hamas denies that it seizes the aid. Israeli military forces are stationed nearby for security.
Trucks loaded with aid arriving at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, on Wednesday. UTERS/Shafiek Tassiem
Many Gazans who are facing severe food shortages say they will do anything to feed their families, but the scenes of chaos, looting and Israeli shooting near the compound Tuesday were concerning, they said.
'The scenes were heartbreaking," said Mohammed Al-Saafin, 25 years old, who is sheltering in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. 'People were desperate, running after trucks, just trying to get a bag of flour or some canned food. I won't go—it's too dangerous," he said.
The new aid plan overhauls the way aid has entered Gaza through international aid groups since the start of the war, and has faced criticism from more than 20 countries and the United Nations. Critics say it puts people unnecessarily at risk and can't meet the needs of the population on the ground. Most of the planned distribution sites are situated in southern Gaza, which makes reaching them difficult for those who live elsewhere or are unable to move.
'The U.N. has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel's broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza," Jonathan Whittall, the head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said at a press briefing Wednesday.
Since the start of the war, Israel has issued evacuation orders that cover widespread areas in Gaza, which it says are aimed at ensuring the population is out of harm's way in active combat areas but which have repeatedly displaced Gazans.
Momen Hassouneh, a 33-year-old father to three young children who is living in the al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, located in the strip's north, said it would be difficult to make the journey to distribution centers in the south.
'Transportation is difficult. If the roads were open, we'd want to go," Hassouneh said.
The continuing war makes people fearful of moving unless forced. Israel says that it launched a renewed offensive in the enclave to crush Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel had killed Hamas's top leader in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar, after targeting him in a strike earlier this month.
Mohammad Abo Nasem, 38 and a father of three children, is living in a tent in Khan Younis, after being displaced six times since the start of the war. He said he was initially encouraged by photos of people receiving aid on Tuesday, but was deterred by the large crowds.
'I didn't like what happened yesterday because there was no order," he said. 'If there was a system that was more comfortable for people and spared people the humiliation of standing in long lines and chaos, if there was a better mechanism, everyone could get their share without problems or crowding," he said.
But with a family to feed he is desperate. 'I literally have nothing to feed my family. No lentils, no pasta, nothing." He said he would go to a distribution center tomorrow to try his luck.
Write to Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Standard

16 hours ago

• Business Standard

Iran launches more than 40 missiles toward Israel, 23 people injured

Hours after the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched more than 40 missiles toward Israel on Sunday, wounding 23 people and destroying apartment buildings and homes in three cities. At an impact site in Tel Aviv, the blast had sheared off the face of a multistory residential building and damaged several others including a nursing home in a radius of hundreds of metres. But few people were wounded, as many residents had been evacuated and others made it to bomb shelters. Deputy Mayor Haim Goren, who assisted at the scene, said it was nevertheless "miraculous" that more people were not hurt. Relatives and health aides helped residents many with wheelchairs or walkers to leave the nursing home, where windows were blown out up to the top on the 11th floor. It's like a typhoon came through my apartment, said Ofer Berger, who lives near the impact site on the seventh floor of a high-rise. All of the apartments in this area are destroyed, he said. Emergency services said one person was moderately wounded by shrapnel in Sunday's missile barrage while dozens of others were lightly injured. Berger said he hoped the war with Iran would end soon. Most of the tit-for-tat strikes like this end with a lot of tears, he said. Residents sat with their pets and suitcases outside the damaged buildings. One person sat next to a shopping cart filled with Buddha statues and a child's bicycle. Families gathered what they could and stepped gingerly around piles of glass and twisted metal. Dozens of volunteers from an organisation called One Heart showed up to help residents salvage their belongings. Strikes have displaced more than 9,000 people from their homes since the start of the war, according to the Israeli military. Missiles have damaged 240 residential buildings, including more than 2,000 individual apartments. Mira Goshen, 79, said her entire apartment was destroyed. My mamad was shaking like a leaf, and I thought it was the end of the world, Goshen said, referring to the reinforced safe rooms that are required in all new construction. She said the shelter had saved her life. In some areas where entire homes were flattened, the reinforced rooms stood intact. Goshen's pet bird, Chica, survived an 11-story drop when her cage was knocked off the balcony by the explosion. A rescuer retrieved her, and she was trembling and burrowing into Goshen's neck hours later as Goshen spoke with neighbours and authorities outside her building. Hours later, municipality workers worked to sweep up the the shattered glass and remove debris, while others handed out sandwiches and water at an aid station. Several businesses on a nearby street had their windows blown out, and the stores were littered with broken glass amid baked goods, children's clothes and books. Workers at a supermarket stacked crates of fruit in front of a shattered front window and opened for shoppers, who packed the aisles. Residents appeared calm in the aftermath of Sunday's strike, but Goren said the nightly barrages, the frantic running to shelters and the close confines inside them are taking a toll. There's a lot of stress and pressure building, lots of nerves, the deputy mayor said. Mutual aid groups are working around the clock to match families in need with shelters and support, and the municipality is working to convert parking garages, bus stations and train stations to temporary shelters. Goshen said she was more focused on where she would go next than on the US strikes on Iran and their aftermath. I'm far away from politics, and what I think, it doesn't matter actually, because they don't listen to ordinary people, she said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Post

16 hours ago

• First Post

Iran launches over 40 missiles on Israel after US strikes, dozens injured

Hours after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched over 40 missiles at Israel on Sunday, injuring 23 people and damaging homes and apartment buildings in three cities. read more Hours after the U.S. carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched over 40 missiles toward Israel on Sunday, injuring 23 people and causing significant damage to residential areas in three cities. In Tel Aviv, one of the impact sites, a multistory apartment building sustained major structural damage, with the front section sheared off. Several nearby buildings, including a nursing home, were also affected within a wide blast radius. Most residents had evacuated or reached shelters beforehand, which officials said helped minimize casualties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Deputy Mayor Haim Goren, present at the scene, noted the limited number of injuries despite the destruction. Nursing home residents, including those with mobility aids, were safely escorted out with the help of relatives and caregivers. Windows up to the 11th floor were shattered by the blast. 'It's like a typhoon came through my apartment,' said Ofer Berger, who lives near the impact site on the seventh floor of a high-rise. 'All of the apartments in this area are destroyed,' he said. Emergency services said one person was moderately wounded by shrapnel in Sunday's missile barrage while dozens of others were lightly injured. Berger said he hoped the war with Iran would end soon. 'Most of the tit-for-tat strikes like this end with a lot of tears,' he said. Residents sat with their pets and suitcases outside the damaged buildings. One person sat next to a shopping cart filled with Buddha statues and a child's bicycle. Families gathered what they could and stepped gingerly around piles of glass and twisted metal. Dozens of volunteers from an organization called 'One Heart' showed up to help residents salvage their belongings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Strikes have displaced more than 9,000 people from their homes since the start of the war, according to the Israeli military. Missiles have damaged 240 residential buildings, including more than 2,000 individual apartments. Mira Goshen, 79, said her entire apartment was destroyed. 'My mamad was shaking like a leaf, and I thought it was the end of the world,' Goshen said, referring to the reinforced safe rooms that are required in all new construction. She said the shelter had saved her life. In some areas where entire homes were flattened, the reinforced rooms stood intact. Goshen's pet bird, Chica, survived an 11-story drop when her cage was knocked off the balcony by the explosion. A rescuer retrieved her, and she was trembling and burrowing into Goshen's neck hours later as Goshen spoke with neighbours and authorities outside her building. Hours later, municipality workers worked to sweep up the shattered glass and remove debris, while others handed out sandwiches and water at an aid station. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Several businesses on a nearby street had their windows blown out, and the stores were littered with broken glass amid baked goods, children's clothes and books. Workers at a supermarket stacked crates of fruit in front of a shattered front window and opened for shoppers, who packed the aisles. Residents appeared calm in the aftermath of Sunday's strike, but Goren said the nightly barrages, the frantic running to shelters and the close confines inside them are taking a toll. 'There's a lot of stress and pressure building, lots of nerves,' the deputy mayor said. Mutual aid groups are working around the clock to match families in need with shelters and support, and the municipality is working to convert parking garages, bus stations and train stations to temporary shelters. Goshen said she was more focused on where she would go next than on the U.S. strikes on Iran and their aftermath. 'I'm far away from politics, and what I think, it doesn't matter actually, because they don't listen to ordinary people,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Indian Express

16 hours ago

• Indian Express

Iranian missile fired after US strikes causes heavy damage but few injuries in Tel Aviv

Hours after the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched more than 40 missiles toward Israel on Sunday, wounding 23 people and destroying apartment buildings and homes in three cities. At an impact site in Tel Aviv, the blast had sheared off the face of a multistory residential building and damaged several others — including a nursing home — in a radius of hundreds of meters (yards). But few people were wounded, as many residents had been evacuated and others made it to bomb shelters. Deputy Mayor Haim Goren, who assisted at the scene, said it was nevertheless 'miraculous' that more people were not hurt. Relatives and health aides helped residents — many with wheelchairs or walkers — to leave the nursing home, where windows were blown out up to the top on the 11th floor.'It's like a typhoon came through my apartment,' said Ofer Berger, who lives near the impact site on the seventh floor of a high-rise. 'All of the apartments in this area are destroyed,' he said. Emergency services said one person was moderately wounded by shrapnel in Sunday's missile barrage while dozens of others were lightly injured. Berger said he hoped the war with Iran would end soon. 'Most of the tit-for-tat strikes like this end with a lot of tears,' he said. Residents sat with their pets and suitcases outside the damaged buildings. One person sat next to a shopping cart filled with Buddha statues and a child's bicycle. Families gathered what they could and stepped gingerly around piles of glass and twisted metal. Dozens of volunteers from an organization called 'One Heart' showed up to help residents salvage their belongings. Strikes have displaced more than 9,000 people from their homes since the start of the war, according to the Israeli military. Missiles have damaged 240 residential buildings, including more than 2,000 individual apartments. Mira Goshen, 79, said her entire apartment was destroyed. 'My mamad was shaking like a leaf, and I thought it was the end of the world,' Goshen said, referring to the reinforced safe rooms that are required in all new construction. She said the shelter had saved her life. In some areas where entire homes were flattened, the reinforced rooms stood intact. Goshen's pet bird, Chica, survived an 11-story drop when her cage was knocked off the balcony by the explosion. A rescuer retrieved her, and she was trembling and burrowing into Goshen's neck hours later as Goshen spoke with neighbors and authorities outside her building. Hours later, municipality workers worked to sweep up the the shattered glass and remove debris, while others handed out sandwiches and water at an aid station. Several businesses on a nearby street had their windows blown out, and the stores were littered with broken glass amid baked goods, children's clothes and books. Workers at a supermarket stacked crates of fruit in front of a shattered front window and opened for shoppers, who packed the aisles. Residents appeared calm in the aftermath of Sunday's strike, but Goren said the nightly barrages, the frantic running to shelters and the close confines inside them are taking a toll. 'There's a lot of stress and pressure building, lots of nerves,' the deputy mayor said. Mutual aid groups are working around the clock to match families in need with shelters and support, and the municipality is working to convert parking garages, bus stations and train stations to temporary shelters. Goshen said she was more focused on where she would go next than on the US strikes on Iran and their aftermath. 'I'm far away from politics, and what I think, it doesn't matter actually, because they don't listen to ordinary people,' she said.