A third aid distribution hub will begin operating today (Thursday) in the Gaza Strip. According to journalist Doron Kadosh, this new facility, unlike the first two centers located in the Rafah area, will operate in central Gaza, just south of the Netzarim Corridor.
The new center is expected to serve approximately 300,000 Gazans each week, similar to the two hubs already operating in Rafah. It is located near a population estimated at half a million.
Encouraging Population Movement South
According to IDF sources, the choice of location is intended to encourage residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza to move south by providing a safe and reliable alternative to dependence on Hamas. This is described as a strategic move to break Hamas’s monopoly on food distribution.
387,000 Meals Distributed
In the past 24 hours, the two southern aid hubs operated without any irregular incidents. The Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reported that 387,000 meals were distributed throughout the Gaza Strip yesterday.
At the same time, Hamas’s control over aid warehouses appears to be weakening. Israeli security officials note that the mission is to “break the barrier of fear,” and early signs of Hamas losing control are already visible.
Hamas Losing Its Grip
Following a change in the distribution model — in which the aid hubs are secured by civilian contractors and monitored by international observers — Hamas has lost its grip on the aid system. In many cases, it has had to contend with looting of its warehouses by civilians.
In one incident at the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, five Palestinians were killed during an attempted looting of a warehouse.
Alongside these confrontations, videos have circulated showing Gazans thanking the Israeli and American governments, cheering for Netanyahu and Trump, and waving food packages. These images portray a reality in which Hamas no longer controls the food supply.
