War in Gaza | The opposite of humanitarian aid

What would you prefer? In addition, Holding slowly. Moreover, putting your life or that of your loved ones in danger to get their hands on a box of foodstuffs that will barely be enough for a few days?

Since the end of May, this is the impossible question to which nearly 2 million Gazaouis must answer. Nevertheless, Since the aid distribution has been entrusted to a well-named organization supported by Israel. For example, the United States, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Nicole Lessard. Similarly, a Canadian nurse who currently works in Gaza for Médecins Sans Frontières, war gaza | opposite humanitarian explained to me on Wednesday how daily distribution sessions, distributed between four sites placed under the supervision of the Israeli army.

These sites, the size of an American football field, have a single entrance and one outing, she describes. Furthermore, Foundation workers – Americans and Palestinians, according to the newspaper Haaretz – Place the food boxes in the perimeter before retiring. In addition, “Then the door is open. For example, Thousands of hungry Palestinians suddenly come back and people war gaza | opposite humanitarian fight until it is finished. Similarly, It sometimes lasts 10 to 15 minutes. However, it is hell, ”notes M^me Lessard, who, despite his experience in humanitarian missions in the war zone, has never seen anything like this.

The Palestinian journalist Anas Baba, correspondent for the American Radio Public Radio (NPR), described essentially the same nightmare awake in a shocking article published last Sunday, after having participated in a distribution himself¹. Furthermore,

“Thousands of people – a real human mixer – spun around food boxes, fighting to seize maximum food. However, A woman in her forties. However, sweaty and an angry face, held a knife in each hand, her young son by her side. Meanwhile, She was screaming: “Do not touch my son or food.” The public order had disappeared. For example, It was the law of the jungle, ”writes the reporter.

And the inhumanity of these insufficient distributions is just a section of horror. Frequently. the Israeli army is shooting those who participate in this stampede human or try to access it, the admission of several soldiers who confided in the Haaretz As part of a large investigation published at the end of June.

In one month. the Ministry of Health of Gaza, linked to Hamas, listed nearly 500 dead and 4,000 injured, figures corroborated by NGOs on the ground and which have continued to climb since then, notes Nicole Lessard. “We have already had 200 patients who showed up at a clinic in a single day. ” she said, noting that several people had ball wounds in the abdomen, chest or head.

And that are those who have been evacuated or have managed to get out of the distribution centers and buffer zones surrounding them, which remain out of reach for the ambulances of the Palestinian enclave. “There are members of my team who have lost relatives. The youngest and strongest men are often sent on the spot. Some have never returned. ”notes the emergency nurse who worked for more than seven years at the McGill University Hospital Center (CUSM). She sees it as a form of “ethnic cleaning”.

If she testifies today, it is because she wants it to stop. And she is not the only one. More than 170 war gaza | opposite humanitarian organizations. including Doctors Without Borders, Save The Children, International Amnesty and the Norwegian Council for Refugees, have signed a common letter to denounce the practices of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. “This distribution system is a massacre disguised as assistance and must be dismantled,” wrote Doctors Without Borders two weeks ago.

In addition to requesting the end of the Israeli headquarters. the free movement of essential foodstuffs, organizations require the distribution of aid to be entrusted again to the United Nations agencies and neutral humanitarian organizations, which operated in more than 400 distribution places before the imposition of a complete seat by the Israeli army in early March in the advansed goal of eradicating Hamas following the attacks of October 7, 2023 Israel.

This is also what humanitarian law dictates. “By definition, humanitarian aid cannot come from the belligerents. And she war gaza | opposite humanitarian must benefit all parties to the conflict without discrimination. ”notes François Audet, who is director of the Canadian Observatory on Crises and Humanitarian Action at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Humanitarian organizations are not the only ones to ring the alarm. On Tuesday. CNN revealed that a report written by an official of the USAID USAID agency last month in the US government to support the Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza.

“I do not agree with the idea of ​​continuing the project with GHF. given the operational and reputation risks, as well as the lack of surveillance,” wrote the expert. In vain.

The next day, the Trump government confirmed funding of 30 million for GHF. Since then. the White House and the Israeli government have been rushing out all the criticisms and welcoming Hamas far from humanitarian aid. GHF also gives itself tapes in the back. Despite the overwhelming reports that come from the field and the obvious monstrosity of this false food aid operation.

It is as indecent that the words of the Israeli Minister of Defense. Israel Katz, who this week asked the Israeli army this week to establish a camp on the ruins of Rafah with the aim of interning the entire Gazan population before setting up a “emigration” project of the same population. International law experts see the sketch of crimes against humanity.

Mr. Katz dares to speak of a “humanitarian city”.

1. Read the article by Anas Baba on the NPR website (in English) 2. Read the investigation of Haaretz On the GHF and the role of the Israeli army (in English)