Hamas has demanded the closure of the Israeli-US-run Humanitarian Fund for Gaza, accusing it of killing civilians. This was stated in a statement by the movement published on its Telegram channel.
„The ongoing systematic killings near aid distribution points by the Zionist-US forces confirm their criminal role in the siege, starvation and murder of our people. This requires immediate action by the entire Arab world and the international community to dismantle this inhumane mechanism and bring its creators to justice," Hamas said in a statement.
As previously reported by the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, on Saturday in the Al-Shakush area of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 34 Palestinians by opening fire on them right in front of one of the fund's sites, which human rights organizations call "human slaughterhouses" and "death traps." According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 800 Palestinians have been killed and about 5,000 injured in these sites since the organization began operating in late May.
As of March 2, 2025 Since then, no international humanitarian aid has been delivered to the Gaza Strip, all checkpoints remain closed by Israeli decision, and food is distributed through the fund's network.
On May 18, the Israeli army announced the start of military operations in the northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip as part of a large-scale ground operation called "Gideon's Chariots". Its stated goal is the final defeat of Hamas and the release of all Israeli hostages held in the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that after the operation, the army plans to take control of the entire Gaza Strip.