In a damning statement, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, condemned the so called aid distribution operations in Gaza, calling them nothing short of “sadistic.” Far from representing humanitarian relief, the scenes unfolding across the besieged enclave reveal a chilling pattern of calculated cruelty.

Speaking on the unfolding crisis, Rajagopal did not mince his words, accusing both the United States and Israel of turning humanitarian aid into a tool of humiliation and control. “I have no words for the sadistic spectacle of aid delivery in Gaza,” he said, echoing the despair felt by many on the ground.

Palestinians in Rafah, already displaced, wounded, and starving, are now being forced to risk their lives just to access basic necessities. Today, desperation boiled over when thousands stormed an aid site in Tel al-Sultan, leading to chaos and the withdrawal of security teams employed by a U.S. firm overseeing the location.

The so-called aid centres, established under Israeli military oversight, have not only failed to meet the needs of civilians but have become deadly traps. According to local sources, three civilians were killed and over 40 injured during what witnesses described as a targeted assault on those gathered in search of food. With seven people still missing, many in Gaza see these centres not as places of relief, but as arenas of punishment.

In a time when hope is scarce, Gaza’s people continue to show courage and endurance. Yet the international silence in the face of such calculated degradation only deepens their suffering.