JERUSALEM (AP) — Food distribution sites run by the controversial U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation are being closed under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, an Egyptian official and another official in the region told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Multiple Palestinian witnesses said that three of the GHF distribution sites had been abandoned, in the southern Rafah area and in the Netzarim area of central Gaza. Palestinians, aid workers and health officials have said the system forced aid seekers to risk their lives to reach locations past Israeli troops who opened fire to control crowds, killing hundreds. The Israeli army says it only fired warning shots.
Hoda Goda, a Palestinian woman, said the site she often visited in Rafah was empty and that Palestinians tore down structures and took away wooden and metal fences. A video circulating online showed people walking away with scrap metal from the site in the Netzarim area of central Gaza. Israeli troops withdrew from part of Netzarim on Friday under the terms of the ceasefire agreement and will withdraw from parts of Rafah later.
A third official familiar with the situation said the current plan was to rely on other aid agencies to supply Gaza. The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the provisions of the agreement.
A GHF spokesperson said there will be “tactical changes” to its operations and “temporary closures” of some sites over the next few days during the transfer of hostages to Israel.
“There is no change to our long-term plan,” the official said on condition of anonymity in accordance with organization rules.
UN aid increases
The United Nations, which had opposed the GHF distribution, was preparing to bring more aid to the devastated territory after the ceasefire came into effect on Friday. It said it has about 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid ready to go in once Israel gives the green light.
The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid in Gaza, COGAT, said the amount of aid entering the Palestinian territory was expected to increase to around 600 trucks per day, as stipulated in the agreement.
U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP that trucks of aid began arriving in Gaza on Sunday, including cooking gas for the first time in months, but not yet on the scale they expect in the coming days and weeks.
He said the U.N. has a plan for the next two months to restore basic medical and other services, bring in thousands of tons of food and nutritional supplies, fuel and remove debris.
“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” Fletcher said. “But I am absolutely determined that we will not fail… We will do everything we can to deliver for the people of Gaza.” He said the UN has the networks, knowledge and experience to defeat the famine that has gripped Gaza City.
U.S. officials have not said they expect GHF to stop all of its operations in Gaza, but have also said there are no current plans to continue funding it. These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation is still changing, said there could still be a role for GHF, or a similar organization, as long as a ceasefire is cemented and if the UN and other agencies are not able to handle the demand for assistance or prevent it from reaching Hamas.
COGAT said the future of GHF in Gaza was unclear. He had no immediate comment on whether his role was coming to an end.
A controversial system
GHF began operating in late May, after Israel cut off all food to Gaza for months, pushing the population into famine. Israel intended for the group of private contractors to replace the UN food distribution system, alleging that Hamas was diverting large amounts of aid. The UN denied the claims.
The UN had opposed the creation of the GHF, saying the system gave Israel control over food distribution and could force the displacement of Palestinians. Throughout the war, the UN led a massive humanitarian effort with other aid groups, distributing food, medicine, fuel and other supplies in hundreds of centers around Gaza.
All four GHF distribution sites were located in areas controlled by the Israeli military. Palestinians desperate for food had to walk kilometers daily to reach the site past Israeli troop positions. Witnesses said Israeli troops fired heavy volleys to prevent crowds from moving before the sites opened or leaving designated roads. Once at the locations, thousands of aid seekers rushed to reach the food boxes.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 2,500 people were killed and hundreds more injured while seeking help, either en route to GHF sites or when Israeli troops fired as crowds gathered waiting for UN aid trucks to enter Gaza. In any case, Israel said it fired warning shots.
GHF says there has been no violence at aid sites, but acknowledged the potential dangers people face when traveling to them on foot. It said last week that it had distributed the equivalent of 185 million meals in Gaza since it began operations.
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Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press correspondents Victoria Eastwood and Sarah El Deeb in Cairo and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.