The Slow Newscast

Gaza's Deadly Aid

Oct 6, 2025
Ruth Michaelson, an investigative reporter focused on aid distribution in Gaza, joins Anthony Aguilar, a former U.S. Army Special Operations serviceman, to discuss harrowing realities at aid checkpoints. They delve into the chaos, including gunfire incidents and the challenges faced by civilians like Safa trying to access vital aid. Aguilar shares insights on the recruitment of ex-military contractors and the troubling militarization of humanitarian efforts. The conversation highlights the dire choices Palestinians face as they navigate threats and scarcity.
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ANECDOTE

Mother Loses Daughter At Aid Site

  • Safa Al-Famewi set out with her 16-year-old daughter to reach a GHF aid point and encountered shooting near Muawiyah Mosque.
  • Her daughter Ghazel disappeared in the chaos and was later found dead in the morgue.
ANECDOTE

Veteran Deployed Rapidly With Little Briefing

  • Anthony Aguilar, a US Army veteran, was recruited quickly by UG Solutions and deployed to Gaza within days on a tourist visa.
  • He arrived armed and without clear legal status or formal rules of engagement for operating in Gaza.
INSIGHT

Centralised Armed Aid Replaced Community Networks

  • The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation replaced UNRWA distribution with just a few large sites guarded by private contractors.
  • UNRWA warned this concentrated, armed model broke trust and humanitarian norms and reduced access for communities.
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