In a devastating development, at least 32 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli gunfire near two aid distribution points close to Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza. This alarming incident was reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, which also indicated that dozens more were injured in the vicinity of these crucial aid sites.
The aid distribution points are managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has faced scrutiny due to its affiliation with both the United States and Israel. The GHF has stated that there were no reported incidents at or near their facilities; however, they acknowledged that there had been Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activity just hours before the scheduled opening of the aid sites. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the gunfire from Israeli forces appeared to be deliberately aimed at individuals seeking assistance.
One eyewitness, speaking to Reuters, claimed that the Israeli gunfire seemed specifically intended to kill. Mohammed Al-Khalidi, another witness, recounted a harrowing experience where he and other Palestinians were informed that the GHF aid distribution center was operational. Upon their arrival, they were met with tanks that began advancing towards them and opened fire. Al-Khalidi asserted, "It wasn't shots that were to scare us or to organize us; it was shots that were targeted to kill us."
Since the GHF commenced its operations in late May, reports of Palestinians being killed while attempting to access aid have become increasingly frequent. The Palestinian ministry of health has indicated that many of these fatalities are attributed to Israeli forces. Notably, the UN human rights office reported on July 15 that it had recorded 674 killings around the GHF's four sites in southern and central Gaza over a six-week span, alongside an additional 201 killings along routes utilized by UN and other aid convoys.
The GHF has denied any deadly incidents occurring near its sites and has criticized the UN for allegedly using misleading statistics derived from the Hamas-run health ministry. Despite this contention, the ministry's figures are generally regarded as a reliable count of casualties observed by hospitals in Gaza.
Israel's restrictions on food supplies entering Gaza have led to a doubling of acutely malnourished children since March. As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, significant quantities of aid—including vital baby formula—remain blocked at the border. A field hospital director recently reported an unprecedented influx of patients suffering from severe exhaustion, emaciation, and acute malnutrition. According to the Hamas government media office, 69 children have tragically died from malnutrition during this ongoing crisis.
Compounding the challenges, Israel does not permit international news organizations, including the BBC, to send journalists into Gaza, further complicating the situation and limiting the flow of information regarding the humanitarian crisis.
