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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) recently initiated a 'women-only' food distribution day in Khan Younis, but the event turned deadly, showcasing the ongoing turmoil in the region. The GHF's social media post encouraged women to attend the distribution with the promise of a safer environment, as men were advised to stay away due to security concerns. However, chaos ensued when hundreds of women gathered, leading to clashes with Israeli forces.
Mary Sheikh al-Eid, a mother of seven whose husband had already lost his life in the conflict, decided to attend in hopes of feeding her family. Her sister, Khawla, cautioned against it, fearing for their safety, but Mary felt the day was an opportunity not to be missed. "Her children and mine told us not to go... but Mary insisted it would be less crowded," Khawla recounted.
Upon arrival, the sisters discovered a chaotic scene. Despite the promise of an orderly distribution, the atmosphere quickly deteriorated. "There was a huge crowd of women, and it seemed out of control... they started spraying us with pepper spray and then began throwing stun grenades," Khawla described. In the ensuing panic, the two sisters became separated.
Tragedy struck when Khawla received a call informing her that Mary had been shot in the head during the chaos. "I ran like crazy but was told she was killed," Khawla said, despairing at the thought of her sister’s fate. Furthermore, Khadija Abu Anza was also killed in a separate instance at the aid site, marking a grim tally of casualties related to the aid system.
Since GHF’s inception, the UN has reported over 1,000 fatalities linked to Israeli military actions around aid distribution points. A former US soldier affiliated with the GHF condemned the level of violence, stating he witnessed unnecessary force used against civilians seeking assistance.
Israeli officials have maintained that measures taken are necessary for security, claiming that they had fired "warning shots" to disperse perceived threats. Reports of humanitarian crises in Gaza grow more dire by the day, with shortages of food and medical supplies escalating alarmingly.
Calls for accountability continue as both humanitarian organizations and global governments criticize Israel's handling of aid distribution. "These distribution points are death traps," Khawla lamented. "Mary went to fetch food for her children but returned lifeless, carried by others."
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) recently initiated a 'women-only' food distribution day in Khan Younis, but the event turned deadly, showcasing the ongoing turmoil in the region. The GHF's social media post encouraged women to attend the distribution with the promise of a safer environment, as men were advised to stay away due to security concerns. However, chaos ensued when hundreds of women gathered, leading to clashes with Israeli forces.
Mary Sheikh al-Eid, a mother of seven whose husband had already lost his life in the conflict, decided to attend in hopes of feeding her family. Her sister, Khawla, cautioned against it, fearing for their safety, but Mary felt the day was an opportunity not to be missed. "Her children and mine told us not to go... but Mary insisted it would be less crowded," Khawla recounted.
Upon arrival, the sisters discovered a chaotic scene. Despite the promise of an orderly distribution, the atmosphere quickly deteriorated. "There was a huge crowd of women, and it seemed out of control... they started spraying us with pepper spray and then began throwing stun grenades," Khawla described. In the ensuing panic, the two sisters became separated.
Tragedy struck when Khawla received a call informing her that Mary had been shot in the head during the chaos. "I ran like crazy but was told she was killed," Khawla said, despairing at the thought of her sister’s fate. Furthermore, Khadija Abu Anza was also killed in a separate instance at the aid site, marking a grim tally of casualties related to the aid system.
Since GHF’s inception, the UN has reported over 1,000 fatalities linked to Israeli military actions around aid distribution points. A former US soldier affiliated with the GHF condemned the level of violence, stating he witnessed unnecessary force used against civilians seeking assistance.
Israeli officials have maintained that measures taken are necessary for security, claiming that they had fired "warning shots" to disperse perceived threats. Reports of humanitarian crises in Gaza grow more dire by the day, with shortages of food and medical supplies escalating alarmingly.
Calls for accountability continue as both humanitarian organizations and global governments criticize Israel's handling of aid distribution. "These distribution points are death traps," Khawla lamented. "Mary went to fetch food for her children but returned lifeless, carried by others."
