Auxiliary center in Gaza opens again - but the danger remains!

Auxiliary center in Gaza opens again - but the danger remains!

Rafah, Gazastreifen, Palästina - On June 8, 2025, the Gaza Humanitrian Foundation (GHF) opened a distribution center for humanitarian aid in the center of Gaza. The official announcement was made via the Arab Facebook page of the GHF. Two other centers in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip should also open their doors from noon. Before that, however, the auxiliary centers had to remain closed the day before due to "direct threats" of Hamas. The GHF had declared on Friday that it decided to close its centers to the safety of people because the threats could endanger the lives of innocent. In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip had not received any food, which further exacerbated the already tense humanitarian situation.

About two weeks ago, Israel had relaxed the blockade of the aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip. This decision was made under the pressure of the general humanitarian emergency. The GHF now takes over the distribution of relief goods to avoid the UN aid organizations and other initiatives. However, this procedure has led to violent criticism because the GHF is accused of putting civilians in danger and violating the standards of neutral help. Israel intends to ensure that Hamas does not acquire humanitarian aid deliveries, which further complicates the complex situation.

Humanitarian challenges in Gaza

The humanitarian location in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic. There is an acute lack of food, drinking water, medication and other everyday necessities. The GHF, which has recently launched, is planning a reorganization of the distribution of relief goods and is in the process of ensuring supply via four logistics centers without having access to Hamas. Private security forces are entrusted with securing routes and distribution centers, while Israeli soldiers are not involved in the issue. This development is part of a more comprehensive plan supported by the Israeli government.

At the international level there are concerns about the strategy of the GHF. UNICEF critically commented on the plans and warned that civilians could end up in danger on the way to the distribution centers. Old, disabled children, the sick and injuries in particular could have difficulty reaching the auxiliary centers. It is still afraid that control over vital goods will be reinforced as a means of pressure, which contradicts Israel's obligations to provide impartial help.

The USA and Israel work together to organize aid deliveries, while the situation on site remains precarious. Despite the loosening of the blockade, the challenges are enormous and the humanitarian crisis is far from solved. Germany's new Foreign Minister, Johann WadePhul, is currently in Israel to conduct discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, which underlines the international dimension of the conflict.