A tragic event unfolded in central Gaza on Wednesday when a large crowd of desperate Palestinians broke into a United Nations food storage facility, leaving at least two people dead and several others injured, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
The WFP reported that the crowd stormed the Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir al-Balah in search of food supplies intended for distribution. “Preliminary information suggests two fatalities and multiple injuries,” the agency stated. The precise cause of the casualties remains uncertain, and the WFP is investigating further. However, the organization stressed that the incident highlights the worsening humanitarian situation tied to restricted aid access.
Footage reviewed by CNN shows crowds swarming the warehouse, seizing any food they could carry. One image depicts a man with a bloodied face clinging to a sack of flour, while another video captures people fleeing the site with bags of flour amid sounds of gunfire.
The chaos at the warehouse exemplifies the dire circumstances gripping Gaza. With over 11 weeks of limited aid deliveries due to an Israeli blockade, the region’s 2 million residents are facing the threat of famine. Aid only began trickling back in last week.
“The humanitarian crisis is out of control after nearly three months without food or essential supplies,” the UN agency warned. The warehouse contained crucial stocks, such as flour, that were meant for systematic distribution but were instead seized in a desperate act of survival.
The WFP reiterated its repeated warnings about deteriorating conditions and said Gaza urgently needs a significant increase in food aid to prevent further catastrophe.
The UNRWA’s Public Information Office in Gaza described the warehouse breach as “unfortunate,” attributing the chaos to the ongoing blockade that has prevented the entry of life-saving supplies.
This incident followed another chaotic scene just a day earlier at an aid distribution site in Tel al-Sultan. Run by the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the site was overwhelmed by thousands of Palestinians, leading Israeli forces to fire warning shots. American security contractors temporarily withdrew during the incident but reportedly did not use firearms. One person was confirmed dead, and 48 others were injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Videos from that location showed people scaling fences and pushing through barriers meant to regulate the crowd, reflecting the desperation felt by many.
‘600 Days of Suffering’
Wednesday also marked 600 days since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after the October 7 Hamas attacks. Despite widespread international criticism, including from Israeli allies, the offensive continues with no clear end in sight.
In an interview with CNN, Abu Amr, a resident of Deir al-Balah, described the toll of the conflict: “It feels like 600 years, not 600 days.” He spoke of the dual threat from bombings and starvation, urging the US and Western countries to intervene and help bring an end to the conflict.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 54,000 people have died since the start of the war. These figures do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.
A temporary truce that began in late January fell apart on March 18, prompting renewed Israeli airstrikes. Since then, more than 3,900 additional Palestinians have been killed, the health ministry reported.
Another displaced Gazan, Aziz El-Kahnoot, said the atmosphere has been marked by relentless death and despair. “We’ve lived with the smell of death for 600 days,” he said, describing the population as “hostages” to the ongoing violence.
An Israeli military source told CNN that Israel plans to take control of 75% of Gaza within two months, potentially forcing over 2 million Palestinians into a much smaller area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that the entire population may be relocated to southern Gaza.
Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s interim coordinator for Middle East peace, described the situation as civilians being pushed into “an abyss.” She urged Israel to stop its strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure, warning that famine now threatens the entire population of Gaza. “The limited aid allowed in is like a lifeboat after the ship has already gone down,” she said.
Source: CNN
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