The first day of a US and Israeli-backed aid initiative in Rafah descended into chaos as thousands of starving Palestinians overwhelmed a distribution site in Tel al-Sultan, seizing food and supplies after private contractors lost control. Witnesses described scenes of desperation, with people grabbing whatever they could—flour, water, medicine—while Israeli forces reportedly fired live rounds to disperse the crowd. US personnel were evacuated under military escort, leaving behind a failed effort that exposed the dire reality of life under siege.  

The scheme, led by the US-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), deliberately bypassed UN agencies, sidelining the very organisations with the expertise to manage large-scale relief. Without neutral oversight, the distribution quickly unravelled, raising fears that aid is being weaponised rather than delivered impartially.  

Despite promises of increased assistance, only a trickle of trucks are entering Gaza—just five out of 100 approved made it through on May 20. In the north, famine tightens its grip, while in the south, hospitals collapse under bombardment and fuel shortages. The militarised approach to aid, coordinated with Israeli forces even as strikes continue, has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian groups who warn that relief must not come at the cost of dignity or safety.  

For Palestinians, the breakdown is yet another betrayal. With over two million trapped in displacement camps and children starving in plain sight, the world watches as politics strangles survival. The message from Gaza is clear: only unrestricted, independent aid can avert catastrophe—not more schemes that treat basic human needs as a bargaining chip.