Israel is facing a prolonged state of anarchy, failing to establish an alternative governance system even after weakening the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This has paralyzed the aid system and led to ongoing civilian casualties.
According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 21st (local time), the Israeli military opened fire on Palestinian civilians gathered to receive food in southern and northern Gaza on the 19th. Gunfire erupted near a civilian distribution point supported by Israel in the south and in an area where a United Nations convoy was approaching in the north. The Israeli military claimed it was "warning fire to neutralize threats," but there were numerous fatalities and injuries.
Israel explained that it has set up distribution points in areas outside Hamas control to prevent Hamas fighters and looters from intercepting aid supplies. However, aid experts and humanitarian officials pointed out that such measures are pushing starving civilians into more perilous situations. Experts analyzed that these clashes stem from a structural problem rooted in leaving a power vacuum rather than being mere administrative failures.
After 22 months of war, Israel has weakened Hamas's command structure and destroyed infrastructure in Gaza. However, social services and security functions have also collapsed, and no alternative governance system has been established subsequently. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that there are no post-war plans until Hamas is completely defeated.
The international community has criticized this attitude. In a joint statement, 25 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, labeled Israel's military actions as "unacceptable" and urged for an immediate halt to the war.
Criticism has also arisen within Israel. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated, "As long as we control Gaza, we must take responsibility for it." He noted, "The reason necessary measures are not being taken is that the government does not want them to be done."
The Israeli military is repeatedly using live ammunition instead of non-lethal equipment at aid distribution sites. This approach attempts to control crowds solely through military force, exacerbating chaos and civilian casualties on the ground. Israel resumed food distribution at the end of May, but the number of distribution points has significantly decreased as a new humanitarian organization led by the U.S. and Israel has replaced the existing United Nations distribution system.
Palestinian residents are faced with the situation of having to travel several kilometers to receive food, and there is also a risk of trampling and gunfire near distribution points. Experts warn that if the power vacuum persists, it could lead to the resurgence of armed groups or Hamas.
Sira Efron, research director of the non-profit think tank Israel Policy Forum, assessed that "what is happening now is not merely an administrative failure but the result of lawlessness and governance collapse." He stated, "There is no solution without an answer for the future of Gaza."