GHF says sites won’t reopen tomorrow morning as planned after one-day shut-down

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says its distribution sites will be opening later than normal tomorrow due to maintenance and repair work.

The announcement from GHF on its Arabic Facebook page doesn’t specify which of its sites will open tomorrow and when, in what will likely further complicate efforts by Gazans to plan lengthy walks to pick up aid.

The GHF post says the organization will share information on opening times as soon as the work is complete.

A GHF spokesperson separately says that the sites won’t reopen tomorrow morning, but will resume operations later in the day. However, he doesn’t say when.

GHF did not open its sites on Wednesday, after eight consecutive days of operation. The shutdown was implemented in order to carry out logistical work in order to more safely accommodate more Palestinians at distribution sites.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the IDF said it fired warning shots toward Palestinians outside an aid distribution site after they approached troops while straying off a pre-approved path. Hamas officials and the Red Cross claimed dozens were killed and hundreds wounded from gunfire. The IDF asserts that those figures are exaggerated, while saying it is investigating the allegations.

A GHF spokesperson said Tuesday that the shutdown would only last a day, but the delay in reopening indicates that its logistical work is running behind schedule.

“GHF is working to make the distribution of food boxes as safe as possible, despite the difficult circumstances. We strongly urge all those heading to our locations to follow the routes set by the IDF to ensure safe passage,” the foundation said.