In the war-torn Gaza Strip, the quest for basic necessities has become a deadly risk. Anas Baba, an NPR producer, recounts his perilous journey to a food distribution site supported by the US and Israel, where thousands of Palestinians have been wounded or killed by Israeli military fire.
Since May 26, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has provided food to thousands of hungry Palestinians, but at what cost? Every day, crowds gather at the sites, fighting for rations amidst the chaos. The UN describes the program as a “death trap,” while GHF claims it’s meant to prevent Hamas from controlling the flow of aid.
Baba, who has lost nearly a third of his body weight after 21 months of war, risked his life to document the scene. He witnessed Israeli tanks firing on unarmed crowds, people being crushed beneath cars, and masked thieves stealing food. The distribution site was finally open, but law and order had vanished, replaced by the law of the jungle.
The GHF says it’s impossible to screen for individuals affiliated with Hamas, but Palestinians have been killed en route to get food at their sites. A group of 170 human rights organizations called for the end of this food distribution system. Despite the horrors, many still gamble with their lives to collect some food for their families.
The situation is dire: more than 200 people have been wounded and 26 killed outside one GHF site alone. The hospital has run out of white shrouds to cover the deceased, who were once carried in empty sacks filled with flour given out as international aid. The fight for basic necessities in Gaza continues, with Palestinians risking their lives every day to feed their families.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/06/g-s1-75874/gaza-food-hunger-ghf