Lives Lost: The Struggle for Aid in Gaza

In the early hours of Sunday, eight lives were lost, and many more were injured in a shooting near aid sites in Gaza. People were desperate for food and other essentials. The sites are supported by Israel and the United States. These sites are run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This group wants to replace the old system run by the United Nations. The UN has refused to support this new system. They say it goes against humanitarian rules. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has been brutal. It has been going on for over 20 months. It started with an attack by Hamas in October 2023. This attack led to a series of events, including a surprise attack by Israel on Iran. The war has caused widespread hunger and a high risk of famine. Most of the 2 million people in Gaza rely on international aid. The conflict has destroyed almost all of Gaza's ability to produce food. People in Gaza have been facing near-daily shootings near these aid sites since they opened last month. Witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on crowds. Health officials report that many have been killed. The military has admitted to firing warning shots at what they call suspects. This has made the situation even more dangerous for those seeking help. The new aid system has been chaotic and violent. The UN system has struggled to deliver food due to Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order. Israel and the U. S. accuse Hamas of diverting aid. The UN denies this. They say the new system does not meet Gaza's needs. It also allows Israel to control who gets aid. This could lead to more people being forced to move. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says there has been no violence at the distribution points. They have warned people to stay on designated routes. They recently paused deliveries to discuss safety measures with the military. Meanwhile, Israel's military body in charge of aid coordination in Gaza said 292 trucks of aid entered Gaza over the past week. This is a significant drop from the 600 trucks that entered per day during the latest ceasefire. The war has taken a massive toll on Gaza. It has destroyed vast areas and displaced around 90% of the population. Many have been displaced multiple times. The conflict has killed over 55, 300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Most of the dead are women and children. Israel claims to have killed more than 20, 000 militants. The war has left deep scars on the people of Gaza.