Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in central Gaza, seizing food supplies amid mounting famine fears.
The WFP confirmed that “hordes of hungry people” broke into its Al-Ghafari facility in Deir al-Balah, where essential food aid had been stockpiled for distribution. AFP footage captured chaotic scenes as crowds carried off sacks of flour and boxes of food while gunfire rang out in the background. The source of the gunshots remains unclear.
Tragically, at least two people reportedly died and several others were injured in the incident, according to the WFP, which is still verifying full details.
“This is what happens when humanitarian needs spiral out of control,” the WFP warned. “Gaza needs an immediate scale-up of food assistance. This is the only way to reassure people that they will not starve.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sharply worsened after nearly three months of Israeli blockade, only partially eased last week. Although Israel says 121 UN and international aid trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday, UN officials stress that the volume is woefully inadequate.
UN envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council the current aid flow is “comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk,” as famine looms over the entire population.
The crisis is further complicated by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a US and Israeli-backed aid initiative that bypasses the UN system. While Washington and Tel Aviv argue it prevents Hamas from hijacking aid, the UN has condemned the setup as “unworkable and unethical.”
The UN Human Rights
