SHOOTINGS IN GAZA DURING AID DISTRIBUTION
Over the weekend, Israeli soldiers fired at Palestinians gathering at food aid sites. The incidents are part of bigger, more complex problems with overlapping dynamics.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers shot Palestinians moving towards an Israeli backed-food site in an Israeli-controlled area. The next day, Israeli soldiers fired at Palestinians rushing to take supplies from a convoy of food trucks sent by the United Nation in a Hamas-controlled area.
According to BBC News, Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza says 24 people have been killed..
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have said there were “no known injured individuals” from IDF fire near both sites, while an Israeli military official claims warning shots were fired to disperse people whom the IDF believed were a threat.
Israel claims that it was necessary to put food supply sites in areas beyond Hamas’ control to prevent civilians stealing supplies, but critics say this puts civilians at greater risk by forcing them to cross Israeli military lines.
The Israeli military’s use of lethal force is seen as an unnecessary alternative to non-violent methods, since civilians already risk their lives accessing aid. Food is also scarce in Gaza because of Israel’s 80-day blockade between March and May, increasing desperation.
Most crucially, after 22 months of war, there is no functional governing system in Gaza after Hamas abandoned the area. Social services and law enforcement are absent as a result.
Israel, in fact, has cut off Hamas completely from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has also decided not to create a governing system for Palestinians to replace Hamas.
“There’s a blame game and everyone is looking at the technical details and about how the aid is distributed,” said Shira Efron, an expert on aid systems in Gaza at the Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based research group.
“But the bigger issue is the lawlessness and the breakdown of governance,” she added. “After 22 months of war, it’s anarchy in Gaza. And without addressing the core issue of what should happen next in Gaza, there won’t be a solution.”
Responding to critics, Netanyahu announced his plan to defeat Hamas before processing its replacement, which has proven challenging.
Reports of people being killed by Israeli fire while seeking food in Gaza continue to come in daily.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/world/middleeast/shootings-aid-gaza-analysis.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp90v2ng70yo