Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has strongly criticized Israel’s aid distribution mechanism in Gaza, describing it as a “cheap form of genocide.” According to Al Jazeera, Khamenei accused Israel of leaving Palestinians with a grim choice. In a post on Telegram, he condemned the country for pushing the people of Gaza into a state of dilemma: “either perish under the rubble of hunger or get shot trying to obtain a food package.”
Khamenei stated, “This is a cheap form of genocide, calculated with Western precision. A nation that once died under bombs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars now dies in food lines from bullets that cost mere dollars.” Al Jazeera reported that at least 34 Palestinians were recently killed near the only remaining food aid site in the Strip, which is operated by the GHF.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left citizens starving. Reports state that the UN estimates around 800 Palestinians have been shot while attempting to obtain aid over the past six weeks. They are being denied basic necessities. Over 100 Palestinians, including children and women, were reportedly killed while dozens were injured on Saturday after Israel struck the Gaza Strip.
Earlier on July 11, UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini stated in a post on X: “Inaction & silence are complicity. Under our watch, Gaza has become the graveyard of children & starving people. No way out. Their choice is between two deaths: starvation or being shot at.” He further added, “The most cruel & Machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity. Our norms & values are being buried. Inaction will bring more chaos. The time to act is overdue.”
His remarks come at a time when the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched strikes on more than 35 Hamas targets operating in the city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Dozens of IAF fighter jets identified and attacked key underground sites belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization earlier on Saturday. Meanwhile, the IDF spokesperson described the strike as a “defensive measure to neutralize threats posed by the terror infrastructure.”
