Amid the worsening Gaza aid crisis, a disturbing video has emerged showing Israeli troops using pepper spray on starving Palestinians at an aid distribution point in Rafah. The footage has sparked outrage, highlighting the intense suffering Gazans face as they risk their lives for food.
Chaos at the Distribution Point
The 20-second video, verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad, shows armed Israeli soldiers spraying crowds at the Shakoush aid site. Men, women, and children scatter in fear—some coughing and covering their faces, others fleeing while clutching bags of flour.
This site is operated by the US- and Israel-backed GHF agency. Since its launch in late May, it has become a symbol of desperation. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 891 people have died while trying to collect food from these hubs. Of these, 674 deaths occurred near GHF distribution zones, the UN reported on July 15.
A Deadly Struggle for Survival
On the day the video was recorded, July 10, three Israeli soldiers can be seen unleashing pepper spray on the already struggling crowd. Aid seekers, visibly weak and malnourished, flee in all directions. Eyewitnesses say Israeli forces opened fire shortly after firing warning shots.
Mahmoud Mokeimar, a witness from Gaza, described the moment: “The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately. I saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded running for their lives.”
On Sunday alone, at least 84 Palestinians were killed—73 of them while attempting to collect aid. The previous day saw 116 deaths across Gaza, with updated figures raising the toll to 130 killed and 495 injured.
Aid or Annihilation?
Since the GHF began operating, it has undermined the longstanding UN-led aid system. Its presence has coincided with Israel’s easing of a total blockade but has also triggered violence at distribution points. Critics say GHF lacks proper coordination and transparency, endangering lives rather than saving them.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, summed it up: “Parents must choose between starvation and risking death. There is no food in the markets. Everything is too expensive.”
Read: Gaza Civil Defence Says Israeli Forces Kill 44 People Waiting for Aid
Hunger Claims Youngest Victims
Children are dying from starvation in alarming numbers. On Sunday, four-year-old Razan Abu Zaher succumbed to hunger-related complications. On Saturday, al-Shifa Hospital reported the deaths of a 35-day-old infant and another adult due to starvation.
Hospitals across Gaza are overwhelmed. Emergency departments are flooded with patients suffering from severe malnutrition. The Health Ministry called the situation “unprecedented” and blamed the ongoing Israeli restrictions on food and medical access.
Mounting Casualties
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has caused a staggering human toll. As of Sunday at 12:30 GMT, at least 58,895 Palestinians have been killed and 140,980 injured. In contrast, about 1,139 Israelis died in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, with over 200 people taken hostage.
Despite international pressure, Israel continues its operations. Aid seekers, hospitals, and even children remain targets. The deaths at GHF sites reflect not just logistical failure but a humanitarian collapse.
Global Response and Growing Alarm
While the international community has voiced concern, action remains limited. Humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate reforms to aid delivery. Activists demand an end to attacks on civilians and accountability for war crimes.
Public outrage is growing. Images of starving children and deadly aid lines are circulating globally. Protests are erupting in major cities, with demonstrators calling on their governments to intervene.
No Safe Option
For Gaza’s population, every choice now carries risk. Seeking food means facing bullets, while staying home means starvation. As the Gaza aid crisis deepens, the world watches, and many ask: how much longer will this tragedy continue?
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