Israel-US aid system turned Gaza into ‘human abattoir’, former UN spokesperson says

The Israeli-US aid operation has turned Gaza into a “human abattoir”, or slaughterhouse, former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness has said, in a reference to distribution sites operated by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). “Hundreds of civilians are herded like animals into fenced-off pens and are slaughtered like cattle in the process,” Gunness told Al Jazeera. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced a full day’s closure on Wednesday, saying that operations would resume after the completion of maintenance and repair work on its distribution sites. It comes after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians seeking aid, killing at least 27 people and injuring about 90, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The closure has extended into today. The former UN official cast doubt on the reason for the suspension, saying its work had been halted “because it has rightly sparked international outrage and condemnation”.