The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has paused food delivery in the Strip on Wednesday after reports claimed dozens of Palestinians were killed in a series of shootings near their three distribution sites.
The US and Israel-backed aid distribution group stated that it was in discussions with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to enhance safety measures, including methods to manage civilian presence near aid hubs and improve military training protocols.
The pause in aid comes after Israeli forces acknowledged opening fire near a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah, a southern Gazan city now largely empty and declared a military zone.
At least 27 people were killed on Tuesday, according to the Red Cross and the UN. The IDF denied firing on civilians, stating it shot near people they described as suspects who ignored warning shots. It said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties.
A further 80 people were reportedly killed since the GHF opened the aid distribution sites last week, in similar incidents on Sunday and Monday. In both cases, the Israeli military claimed to have fired warning shots.
New aid system sparks controversy
Both the US and Israel said they supported the creation of a new aid distribution system in Gaza aimed at stopping Hamas from war profiteering by diverting humanitarian supplies to fund its armed activities.
The UN has repeatedly denied that Hamas has systematically diverted the aid on a significant scale. It said safeguards are in place to prevent misuse.
The UN has declined to participate in the new distribution system with the GHF, stating it violates humanitarian principles by giving Israel control over who receives aid and requiring Palestinians to travel to collect supplies from only three hubs.
Earlier this year, Israel imposed a complete aid blockade on food and other supplies into Gaza for two and a half months before easing restrictions in May.
Humanitarian experts warned earlier this year that the Strip faced famine unless Israel lifted its blockade and stopped its renewed military campaign that began in March.
Israel has vowed to seize control of Gaza and fight until Hamas is destroyed or disarmed and exiled, and until the militant group returns the remaining 58 hostages seized in the incursion that sparked the war.
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Hamas took 251 people as hostages and is currently holding 58, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.
A subsequent Israeli offensive has to date resulted in the deaths of at least 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, whose figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
The Israeli military says 862 of its soldiers have died since the start of the war.
Hamas has been vastly depleted militarily and lost nearly all of its senior leaders in Gaza.
