Aid Operations Temporarily Halted in Gaza Amid Safety Concerns and Logistical Adjustments

 Gaza City | June 4, 2025 — The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced a one-day pause in its aid distribution operations on Wednesday to enable critical logistical improvements and ensure safer crowd management amid recent mass-casualty incidents near distribution points.

According to a GHF spokesperson, the suspension is intended to allow for preparations to accommodate larger gatherings expected at the distribution sites. Concurrently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use the temporary pause to enhance access routes and reinforce security protocols aimed at preventing further civilian harm. Aid operations are expected to resume on Thursday.

In a statement, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson cautioned Palestinian civilians that roads leading to aid centers will be closed during this interim period, as those areas remain classified as active combat zones.

A separate GHF representative told The Times of Israel that the organization is in active coordination with IDF leadership to bolster safety measures beyond the immediate distribution areas. The foundation has requested additional military safeguards to manage civilian movement, clearer communication on approved access routes, and improved IDF training protocols to minimize risks to Palestinian lives.

This follows three consecutive days of violence in which Palestinian civilians were killed and injured while attempting to reach aid stations. Hamas health officials report that 31 people were killed and 170 wounded on Sunday; three were killed and 35 injured on Monday; and 27 lost their lives with 90 wounded on Tuesday. These figures remain unverified. The IDF has alleged that many of the incidents stemmed from civilians inadvertently entering military zones after straying from designated paths.

United Nations agencies and international aid organizations have repeatedly warned of such risks, citing the perilous conditions that require civilians to traverse long distances through contested zones to receive food assistance.

The GHF, backed by both Israel and the United States, has been promoted as a model to circumvent Hamas’s control over aid distribution, amid allegations—denied by humanitarian organizations—that the militant group diverted UN-provided aid. Since its launch on May 26, the GHF has operated up to three distribution points daily, primarily in Rafah and near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza. Plans to open new sites, including in northern Gaza, are underway but lack a confirmed timeline.

Despite its efforts, challenges persist. Much of Gaza’s displaced population remains in makeshift shelters far from existing aid centers. Many civilians report walking dozens of kilometers—often through dangerous zones—to secure limited food supplies.

The IDF's blockade of Gaza throughout March, April, and much of May, aimed at exerting pressure during ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Israeli military officials privately acknowledge that the Strip approached famine conditions during this period.

In its first nine days of operation, GHF reported distributing over seven million meals from more than 100,000 aid boxes. However, the reliance on dry food items requiring fuel and kitchen facilities—both in short supply—has limited the practical value of the aid.

Separately, diplomatic efforts are intensifying. On Tuesday, ten members of the UN Security Council formally requested a vote on a draft resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages and the full restoration of humanitarian access.

The resolution will require nine affirmative votes and no vetoes from the five permanent council members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to pass. However, a U.S. veto appears likely, as Washington continues to support Israel diplomatically and places principal blame for the conflict on Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.