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Why Israel’s chaotic new food program in Gaza has turned so deadly

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By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Israel’s newly imposed food distribution system in Gaza, designed to bypass both Hamas and the United Nations, has led to deadly chaos at aid centers
In Khan Younis last Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians surged into a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site, overwhelming security and triggering gunfire as desperate crowds scrambled for scarce food
Within minutes, supplies were looted and violence left several dead and injured

🔭 The context: Since early 2025, Israel has sought to weaken Hamas’s control over humanitarian aid while reducing its reliance on UN agencies, which Israeli officials claim are compromised
This has led to the creation of a parallel delivery system using U.S.-contracted security and local foundations
However, growing hunger and a lack of coordinated distribution mechanisms have turned aid sites into flashpoints, as Gaza’s food insecurity reaches unprecedented levels amid ongoing conflict and blockade

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Gaza crisis highlights how conflict-driven humanitarian failures exacerbate food insecurity and undermine international relief norms
It underscores the vulnerability of civilians to policy-driven bottlenecks and the urgent need for sustainable, coordinated, and depoliticized aid channels
Mismanaged responses risk compounding hunger crises and destabilizing regional food security, with broader implications for fragile food systems in conflict zones globally

⏭️ What's next: International pressure is mounting for Israel to restore UN-led aid coordination and ensure safer access for civilians
Talks among U.S., Israeli, and regional actors are reportedly underway to reform the system and avoid further deadly incidents
Observers expect a decision in coming weeks, as famine warnings in parts of Gaza intensify and donor confidence in alternative channels erodes

💬 One quote: “The current distribution model is failing the very people it claims to protect — and risks turning hunger into a weapon of war,” — Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council

📈 One stat: More than 1.1 million people — half of Gaza’s population — are now facing emergency levels of food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)

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