Summary of "How Seeking Food Has Become Deadly in Gaza" – The Daily Podcast

Episode Title: How Seeking Food Has Become Deadly in Gaza
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Host/Author: The New York Times – Michael Barbaro, Rachel Abrams, and Natalie Kitroeff
Podcast Description: "The Daily" presents the biggest stories of our time, narrated by top journalists, offering twenty minutes of news-ready content every weekday morning.

Introduction

In the July 24, 2025 episode of "The Daily," titled "How Seeking Food Has Become Deadly in Gaza," hosts Rachel Abrams and Erin Boxerman delve into the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The episode examines the shift from a United Nations-coordinated aid distribution system to a new framework managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an initiative heavily influenced by Israeli authorities. This transition has led to increased violence and fatalities among Palestinians seeking essential food aid.

Background: The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The episode opens with a poignant account from Ghada Al Kord, a resident of Gaza, who shares her harrowing experience of starvation:

Ghada Al Kord [00:37]: "We are really starving. Honestly, there is nothing to be eaten here in Gaza... Maybe I lost more than 10 kilos now. And my bones, you can see my bones now. Soon I'll be skeleton."

Rachel Abrams sets the stage by highlighting the dire circumstances:

Rachel Abrams [01:30]: "Suffering in Gaza has reached new depths and now finding food, which was already scarce, has become a deadly endeavor."

The New Aid Distribution System

Erin Boxerman interviews Aaron, a correspondent with deep insights into the situation:

Erin Boxerman [02:12]: "Aaron, can you explain what has been going on at these aid sites and why have these people been killed?"

Aaron explains the transition from the United Nations' extensive aid network to a more controlled system:

Aaron [02:49]: "The way that it's being distributed has been totally upended... Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and wounded near new aid distribution sites that are under the control of the Israeli military."

The new system, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, was initially presented as a neutral and independent initiative. However, investigative reporting revealed its Israeli origins and the involvement of American private contractors:

Aaron [07:39]: "It was actually an Israeli creation as far back as the earliest weeks of the war... These would be American companies to provide legitimacy to the project."

Impact on the Ground: Violence and Fatalities

The podcast provides a chilling firsthand account from Mohammed Sagar, who recounts being shot while attempting to access aid:

Mohammed Sagar [16:54]: "I was trying to get a box of food... there were warning shots, and people started getting shot. It was like a race for food."

Aaron corroborates this story with reports from the Red Cross and Palestinian witnesses:

Aaron [21:12]: "According to Palestinian witnesses and the Israeli military official who spoke to reporters, the incident seemed to have been about a kilometer away from the site."

The situation remains volatile, with repeated incidents of violence near aid sites leading to significant casualties:

Unnamed Reporter [23:10]: "At least eight people have been killed in the last 24 hours and 74 injured, including as recently as this week."

International and Domestic Reactions

The podcast highlights widespread condemnation from Israel's allies and the international community:

Aaron [28:21]: "A coalition of around 30 countries issued a joint statement where they really condemned this new system, which they said deprived Gazans of their human dignity."

Despite the backlash, the United States continues to support the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, recently appointing Johnny Moore as its new head and providing substantial funding:

Aaron [27:33]: "The $30 million in funding from the State Department was actually authorized weeks after these reports of shootings began to emerge."

Israeli officials defend the initiative but acknowledge challenges in its implementation:

Aaron [28:59]: "At least Israeli officials have defended the initiative, but there's also reason to believe that they're not totally thrilled with how it's turned out."

Underlying Issues and Broader Implications

Aaron discusses the broader context of governance in Gaza, or the lack thereof, and the potential long-term strategies behind the chaos:

Aaron [29:53]: "All these scenes of desperation and chaos... no one is really responsible for governing in Gaza... critics of Israel have argued that the chaos in Gaza could also be part of a larger strategy."

The episode underscores the complex interplay between humanitarian efforts and military objectives, painting a grim picture of Gaza's future amid ongoing conflict and instability.

Conclusion

The episode concludes by reiterating the severe humanitarian crisis facing Gaza, with nearly two years into the war resulting in significant loss of life and rising malnutrition. The collapse of the United Nations' aid distribution system and the controversial implementation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation under Israeli oversight have exacerbated the situation, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread suffering among Palestinians.

Aaron [31:14]: "So we're now nearly two years into this war. We're at almost 60,000 Palestinians killed... ordinary Gazans are still just trying to survive from one day to the next."

Notable Quotes:

• Ghada Al Kord [00:37]: "We are really starving. Honestly, there is nothing to be eaten here in Gaza... Maybe I lost more than 10 kilos now."

• Rachel Abrams [24:51]: "Thousands of people are crossing Israeli military lines in a war zone and they're going to aid sites which are now surrounded by Israeli soldiers."

• Aaron [28:10]: "The US has emerged as a staunch defender of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation... the Trump administration was actually cutting foreign aid elsewhere in the government."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the podcast episode, providing a clear understanding of the deadly challenges faced by Gazans in their quest for essential food aid amidst escalating violence and political complexities.