Reports Detail Militarized US-Israeli Aid Compounds Restricting Gaza Relief Access

A recent report by Israeli researcher Yaakov Garb, hosted on the Harvard Dataverse, reveals that aid distribution compounds in Gaza, constructed with Israeli and American involvement, function primarily as militarized zones rather than humanitarian centers. These compounds are located in Israeli-declared buffer zones, forcing civilians to traverse dangerous areas to access aid, and lack basic shelter, water, and sanitation, raising concerns about violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The compounds are controlled by private US-based security contractors under Israeli military protection, with internal layouts designed to restrict movement and increase vulnerability. Hamas condemned the US-backed aid distribution system, calling it a 'death trap' that enforces starvation and humiliation, and accused the international community of complicity through silence while demanding a UN-supervised aid mechanism. The report also highlights that at least 377,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including many children, have been 'disappeared' by the Israeli military since October 2023, with over 450 Palestinians killed at aid distribution centers. These findings underscore the urgent need for neutral humanitarian intervention and international accountability to protect civilians amid ongoing conflict.