From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
GHF says only three aid distribution sites opened in Gaza today
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
After opening four distribution sites yesterday, the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation only opens three locations today, and sees a significant drop in the number of meals given out.
The GHF says that it distributed nearly 1.9 million meals today in almost 33,000 boxes, according to its daily update. Yesterday, it distributed over 3.1 million meals in 55,000 boxes, the most since it started operations last month. The foundation says each box contains meals for 5.5 people for 3.5 days.
“Early overcrowding” at the SDS1 site in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood prevented trucks from arriving, says GHF Interim Executive Director John Acree.
“At present, Gaza is not a controlled environment,” says Acree. “It is a humanitarian emergency and we are operating under an emergency environment in a conflict zone.”
“People are starving and their desperation can create hazardous conditions,” he continues. “The uncomfortable truth is this: Until there is enough food aid inside Gaza, we will not always complete ‘orderly’ deliveries. GHF is doing everything it can to provide food quickly… and at scale. That is much more than can be said for others involved.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claimed this morning that Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The World Health Organization said initial reports pointed to at least 20 fatalities.
The IDF says it is investigating.
The Times of Israel Community.