GHF forced to close aid distribution sites due to 'chaos of crowds' amid Hamas threats and repeated shooting incidents

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Monday said it had been forced to close one of its aid distribution sites in the southern Tel al-Sultan region of Rafah due to “the chaos of the crowds.” 

The U.S. and Israel-backed organization had previously closed several distribution sites due to repeated incidents of shooting directed at Gaza civilians approaching the distribution sites along the IDF-designated routes to the sites. The IDF and Hamas have each blamed the other for the shootings, which have killed several people over the past week. 

On Sunday, GHF said it would reopen three sites that had previously been closed due to the shootings. In a statement to the residents of Gaza, the organization asked them not to approach the distribution sites before the posted opening times, in an attempt to prevent chaos and allow for organized distribution. 

The GHF later reported that the distribution on Sunday was “organized and smooth.” 

On Saturday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) released text messages it said were sent by Hamas to some of its staff, Ynet News reported the following morning.

“Continuing on this path will lead to severe consequences,” read one of the messages. 

“We are fully aware of what you are doing, and your every move is being closely monitored,” the threatening message continued. “We will not forgive your involvement in projects that damage the dignity of our people and serve suspicious agendas under the guise of humanitarian work. You will bear full responsibility for the consequences of your actions.” 

The GHF closed its aid distribution sites on Saturday in response to the threats, but reopened them on Sunday. Later on Sunday, the foundation reported that it had distributed over 10 million meals through its distribution centers in several weeks since opening in mid-May. 

However, on Monday, those operations ran into repeated issues with GHF closing one site because of the large crowds and another shooting incident. 

According to reports by local Palestinians in the southern humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi, a group of gunmen who appeared to be affiliated with the Popular Forces militia of Yasser Abu Shabab, shot into the crowds following a confrontation between the gunmen and the large crowds of civilians seeking aid. 

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry later claimed that six people were killed after the IDF and its “allies” had attacked the crowds. One eyewitness described seeing the Popular Forces gunmen trying to organize the people into lines. When the people disregarded the instructions and began pushing forward, she said the gunmen opened fire, leading some in the crowd to throw stones at the gunmen, who then retreated into the IDF-controlled area from which the Abu Shabab group has been operating in recent days. 

The GHF has stated that it does not directly work with the Popular Forces, and criticized Hamas for interfering in its efforts to distribute aid directly to Palestinian civilians.