Israeli military labels roads to aid points as “war zones” as humanitarian crisis deepens
Gaza’s humanitarian aid distribution centers will temporarily shut down on June 4, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced, after 27 Palestinians were killed near one of its sites in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
The closure follows warnings from the Israeli military, which declared that roads leading to aid centers are now considered active combat zones. The deadly incident occurred near a GHF distribution site supported by the United States, intensifying fears for civilians trying to access food and aid.
“We will hold the state accountable”
One Palestinian man was seen carrying a food bag in Khan Younis just hours before the temporary shutdown. While Israel has recently eased its blockade, the United Nations warns that the entire population of Gaza faces imminent famine.
The GHF stated the closure is for “renovation, reorganization, and improved operational efficiency” and that distributions will resume on Thursday. However, tensions remain high.
The Israeli military confirmed the temporary closure and urged civilians not to approach aid routes, reinforcing the notion that these are now war zones.
UN slams civilian deaths
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings, calling it “unacceptable” for Palestinians to be shot while trying to collect bread.
Despite launching operations just a week ago, GHF is not collaborating with the UN or other major humanitarian organizations, which accuse it of aligning too closely with Israeli military interests.
Both Israeli authorities and the GHF—staffed with American security personnel—deny allegations that Israeli forces target civilians. The military has opened an investigation into Tuesday’s fatal incident.
Conflict casualties mount
As the Israeli offensive against Hamas intensifies, Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reports that at least 4,240 people have been killed since March 18, with the total death toll in Gaza exceeding 54,000 since the war began.
Hamas’ initial October 2023 attack on southern Israel left around 1,200 dead and 250 kidnapped, prompting the ongoing war.
On Tuesday alone, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported 19 additional deaths, while Israel confirmed three more soldiers killed in northern Gaza, raising its military death toll to 424 since the start of the conflict.
