The Israeli military has declared several key routes to aid distribution hubs in Gaza as ‘active combat zones’, warning Palestinian civilians to avoid these roads amid intensifying fighting with Hamas.
The announcement on Tuesday night came as aid distribution centres in Gaza witnessed chaos, with the Israeli forces being accused of opening fire on people gathered there to receive food.
At least 27 people have been killed in the three days that have seen overcrowding in Gaza food distribution centres.
In a public message delivered in Arabic, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) urged civilians to steer clear of the main thoroughfares leading to the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings, both of which are critical for bringing in food, medicine, and fuel.
“Movement along these routes endangers your lives,” the IDF said, describing the areas as “combat zones” due to the presence of Hamas militants and ongoing military operations.
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said its distribution centres would be closed for a day for “update, organisation, and efficiency improvement work”.
The warning has raised fears over the already fragile flow of humanitarian aid into the war-torn enclave, as ground operations expand around Rafah and central Gaza.
This announcement comes just as humanitarian agencies report growing concern over starvation and disease in Gaza, where more than 2 million residents are facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
Aid deliveries, which had briefly improved after international pressure, now risk further delays or complete suspension amid the latest round of blockades imposed by the Israeli Military.
The United Nations and aid organizations have expressed alarm, noting that these roads are lifelines for both humanitarian access and civilian evacuation.
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has also come under international scrutiny for having established aid hubs within Israeli military zones, claiming an attempt to curb alleged Hamas stockpiling activities.
The UN had previously rejected this operation, suggesting that it does not address the famine and “allows Israel to use aid as a weapon.”
The Israeli military maintains that Hamas continues to use civilian areas and infrastructure to mount attacks, making combat unavoidable in populated zones.
However, critics argue that labelling aid routes as combat zones could constitute collective punishment and violate international humanitarian law. International pressure to halt all assaults on aid organisations and workers remains rampant.
With over 50,000 Palestinians reported killed since the conflict began, the situation in Gaza remains dire, and the latest restrictions are likely to deepen the suffering of civilians already trapped in the region.
