Thousands Rush Gaza Aid Centers Amid Chaos, UN Israel Dispute

Following a nearly three-month blockade on Gaza, the partial resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries has led to chaotic scenes at distribution centers, particularly in Rafah. Thousands of Palestinians, desperate due to severe food shortages, overwhelmed aid sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resulting in stampedes, looting, and the withdrawal of private security guards amid the disorder. The Israeli military acknowledged a momentary loss of control, firing warning shots outside the aid compound but denying direct attacks on the centers, while Hamas condemned the aid rollout as a political tool for systematic starvation and called for unrestricted access to humanitarian organizations. Israel criticized the United Nations for failing to effectively participate in aid distribution, accusing it of spreading misinformation about civilian distress. Aid organizations warned that the blockade and ensuing desperation contribute to risks of looting and unrest as civilians vie for limited supplies. The situation underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid complex political tensions surrounding aid access and delivery.