WhatsappDespite threats from Hamas, thousands of Gazans lined up at the two new humanitarian aid distribution sites located in Tel Sultan and Morag. These sites require one person per family to come and take food. Each box is said to be enough for a week. Gazans packed the food distribution sites with reports indicating 8,000 boxes have already been distributed.
The distribution sites are being managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private American firm run by ex US soldiers. The IDF is providing overall security to the sites.
One Gazan who received his packages reported the following: “This is the package we received from Rafah, from the “Al-Alam” area. Most of them there are Arabs, except for a few foreigners, Americans. The Israeli army is nearby.”
The process has not been without glitches. The distribution site at Tel Sultan was overwhelmed for a short while until the IDF and the American company restored order. While the loss of control has been painted by Hamas as a failure for Israel, the fact that so many Gazans showed up despite threats speaks to the opposite.
Success of the GHF distribution sites is seen as key to breaking the Hamas stranglehold over the Gazan population, which will fast track an end to the war. The GHF is also focused on cutting out other NGOs that have been coopted by Hamas. These include the UN, UNRWA, and even World Food Program, whose Director Cindy McCain has said: “Israel’s allegations of Hamas stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza are unsubstantiated.”
The GHF distribution program might seem like a small asterisk on a conflict that has raged since the October 7th pogrom, but it’s success at this stage is critical for the IDF to continue pounding Hamas and their allies.
