IDF Declares Gaza Aid Route "Combat Zones," Halting Distribution Efforts

The Israeli military has declared roads leading to Gaza's humanitarian aid distribution centers as "combat zones," resulting in a 24-hour halt to aid efforts by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This follows reports of deadly violence and criticism over the new distribution model that requires Gazans to access aid from limited locations under Israeli military control.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued a warning that roads leading to humanitarian aid distribution centers in Gaza will be classified as "combat zones," prompting the closure of these sites for a day on Wednesday. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid network supported by the US and Israel and recently established, announced the temporary shutdown for "update, organization and efficiency improvements works."

According to IDF statements, individuals will be barred from entering the aid distribution centers or traveling on the associated roads. This announcement follows tragic reports from the Hamas-run Civil Defence Agency, which indicated that at least 27 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near one of the distribution centers overnight on Tuesday. The IDF explained that troops opened fire after spotting suspects deviating from the designated routes, marking the third such incident in as many days.

Despite the recent closures, the GHF intends to resume aid distribution on Thursday, amid growing concerns from humanitarian organizations regarding the insufficient supply of food, water, and other essentials for Gazans. The GHF aims to replace the UN-led distribution system, which Israel claims has failed to prevent supplies from being stolen by Hamas, an assertion the UN has refuted. Under this new model, Gazans must collect their supplies from a handful of centers managed by armed contractors in areas controlled by Israeli forces, a structure that critics say forces individuals to travel long distances and carry heavy burdens of aid back home.

In a related update, Reverend Dr. Johnnie Moore, a Christian evangelical pastor known for his support of former US President Donald Trump, has been appointed as the new head of the GHF, succeeding Jake Wood who stepped down amid criticisms of the foundation's operational model. The backdrop of these developments is Israel's intensified military campaign in Gaza, initiated in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and numerous hostages. The ongoing conflict has led to a devastating death toll in Gaza, with at least 54,470 fatalities recorded since the military offensive resumed.