Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Displaced Palestinians have once again faced intimidation and attacks as they gathered to receive aid from a U.S.-backed distribution site in Rafah of the southern Gaza Strip.

Prior to the incident, the American Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stated on its Facebook account on Thursday that they will launch an aid distribution event exclusively for women.

It's the first initiative of its kind since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, the aid-seekers were hit by pepper spray, tear gas, and stun grenades when they arrived.

"I just want food. How can I take my medication without eating? This is unjust. We can't afford to buy anything because we have no income, we don't even have a single coin," said Um Mohammed, a displaced Palestinian.

"I came here at 6:00 without even having breakfast, hoping to get something for my children. My husband has been imprisoned for a year and a half. I have been supporting seven people and my children are suffering from malnutrition. I was hoping to get even just a kilo of lentils or flour. It was extremely crowded, and they sprayed us with pepper spray. This is humiliation. It's a disgrace," said Abeer Dabboos, another displaced Palestinian.

"When we arrived, they threw tear gas and stun grenades at us. We were choking. The organizers pushed us out and told us to leave. They stopped the aid distribution and fired at us. We had to flee," said displaced Palestinian Nada Al-Mujaida.

Almost one in three people in the Gaza Strip are going for days without eating, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement, adding that "malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment".

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

Women-only distribution by US-backed aid site in Gaza ends in intimidation, attacks

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.

China's aggregate social financing maintains high growth in 2025