Thousands of Palestinians surged toward an aid distribution site in Gaza on Tuesday, desperate for food after weeks of Israeli blockade, as the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began delivering its first major shipment of supplies.

The GHF reported that it distributed approximately 8,000 food boxes—equivalent to more than 460,000 meals—at sites across the enclave, which has been devastated by months of conflict. The distribution marked a rare delivery of organized aid in Gaza following an 11-week restriction by Israeli forces.

In Rafah, now under full Israeli military control, large crowds—many arriving on foot or in donkey carts—gathered at the GHF’s designated locations to collect food. Video footage circulated on social media, some unverified, showed people queuing in fenced corridors before entering open fields where aid was stacked. Later images showed fencing torn down as the crowd surged forward.

Despite concerns about Israeli security protocols, including biometric screening, hunger appeared to outweigh fear.

Israel and GHF accused Hamas of attempting to obstruct civilians from accessing the aid, though neither provided evidence. Hamas firmly denied the allegation.

Later in the day, tensions escalated. The Hamas-run media office accused the Israeli military of opening fire near one of the distribution points, claiming at least three people were killed and 46 wounded, with seven more unaccounted for. GHF dismissed those claims as “totally false,” saying its team briefly pulled back due to the overwhelming crowds to ensure safety, but stressed that no shots were fired and no casualties occurred.

The Israeli military has not commented directly on the reported casualties but earlier acknowledged firing warning shots near the compound perimeter before reasserting control over the area.

A spokesperson for the United Nations described the scenes at the aid site as “heartbreaking,” highlighting the extreme desperation gripping much of Gaza’s civilian population.