The discovery of powerful opioid pills hidden inside flour bags distributed in Gaza has triggered shock and condemnation across Palestinian society and international human rights circles. The narcotics, identified as 80mg oxycodone tablets, among the most potent prescription painkillers, were found inside bags distributed through aid centres supervised by the United States and Israel, igniting accusations of a new war crime against the besieged population.

Gaza’s Government Media Office confirmed receiving multiple testimonies from civilians who uncovered the pills while preparing food. The pills were concealed in foil within sacks of flour meant for families enduring famine under Israel’s ongoing blockade. The office described the incident as a deliberate and heinous crime targeting both public health and the Palestinian social fabric, warning civilians to inspect aid thoroughly.

On social media, Palestinian activists and commentators expressed horror, accusing Israel and its allies of turning humanitarian aid into a vehicle of mass harm. “They already shoot civilians queuing for food, and now they poison the bread itself,” one activist wrote. Others described the campaign as “chemical warfare against the starving,” suggesting that the narcotics could be absorbed through contaminated flour, especially dangerous in a population already weakened by hunger and medical collapse.

The timing of the incident is particularly alarming, as Gaza’s health system is in ruins and addiction services are virtually nonexistent. Twitter users highlighted the risks of unmonitored ingestion of such a powerful drug, including respiratory arrest and sudden death, especially in children.

Since May 27, Washington and Tel Aviv have implemented the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” to distribute aid independently of the UN. This mechanism has already come under heavy criticism, with civilians reporting chaos, violence, and sniper fire at food distribution points. Now, the discovery of narcotics in relief flour has deepened suspicions of systematic sabotage, adding another layer to what Gaza authorities describe as “engineered starvation and moral genocide.”

As Palestinians continue to mourn their dead and search for sustenance, they are left asking: How long will the world watch in silence, while even their food becomes a weapon of extermination?