New Gaza aid foundation says more than 2 million meals distributed

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said on Friday it has distributed more than 2 million meals to residents of the Gaza Strip since it began its work a few days ago.

This corresponds to more than 23,000 food boxes, it said.

So far, three of the foundation's centres are open, organizing distributions on the ground with private US security companies.

Israel blocked aid from reaching the Gaza Strip in mid-March and resumed military operations shortly afterwards.

It has recently eased the blockade somewhat, but many people in the embattled coastal strip are in a desperate situation, lacking food, drinking water, medicine and other daily necessities.

According to the Israeli government, the GHF is to be responsible for distributing aid supplies to the population of Gaza in order to bypass aid organizations from the United Nations and other initiatives.

The UN has criticized the initiative, fearing it will lure the population to the few distribution centres and accelerate their expulsion from other residential areas.

There have been reports of looting and a storming of the new distribution centres in recent days. The GHF has repeatedly denied reports of deaths, large numbers of casualties and chaotic scenes at the centres.