Gaza Aid Halted After Violent Day: 23 Dead, EU Condemns Israel

Gaza Humanitarian Aid Halted After Violent Clashes; EU Condemns Militarization of Aid Gaza Strip, Palestine – The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private organization distributing aid independently from the UN, announced the suspension of its food distribution operations on Wednesday morning, following a day of intense violence. This decision comes after Tuesday's chaotic food distribution, which resulted in 47 Palestinians being injured by Israeli army gunfire. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, strongly criticized Israel's use of a private aid distribution system, stating, "Humanitarian aid must never be militarized." The interruption of food supplies has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where at least 23 more Palestinians died in Israeli attacks on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian civilians attempting to receive aid. One eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "It was terrifying. People were running, screaming, and children were crying. We were just trying to get food for our families." The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has condemned the violence and described the suspension of aid as a "distraction from the atrocities." The EU has called on Israel to de-escalate the situation and refrain from further violence. The ongoing conflict continues to cause immense suffering for the Palestinian population in Gaza.