In a devastating incident reported by local officials, at least 27 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli fire while attempting to collect aid near a distribution site in Gaza. The tragic event unfolded near the al-Alam roundabout, approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the aid distribution center, according to Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.
Eyewitnesses and reports indicate that civilians were targeted by a barrage of fire from tanks, quadcopter drones, and helicopters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that their troops fired shots after identifying individuals they deemed as suspects moving towards them and deviating from the designated access routes. This assertion follows a previous incident on Sunday, where the Hamas-run health ministry reported that 31 Palestinians were killed and nearly 200 injured, a claim the IDF denied, despite contrary accounts from civilian witnesses, NGOs, and health officials.
Following the morning's tragic events, Atef Al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, reported receiving 24 dead and 37 wounded individuals, many suffering from gunshot injuries. A foreign medic in the area described the scene as "total carnage," indicating that medical personnel were overwhelmed with casualties since the early hours of the morning.
In a harrowing account shared via social media by a local journalist, witness Nadeem Zarab recounted that he and his uncle were heading to the aid center at around 02:00 (00:00 BST) when the gunfire erupted. He described how they sought refuge behind a wall as bullets rained down from helicopters, tanks, and snipers, stating, "Gunfire was coming from all directions." Tragically, he witnessed people collapsing around him, and despite his uncle's instinct to help a fallen individual, Zarab urged him to stay safe.
The IDF maintained that its troops were not obstructing Gazan civilians from reaching humanitarian aid distribution sites. They clarified that warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer from the aid distribution site towards suspected individuals who posed a threat. However, the restrictive measures imposed by Israel prevent international news organizations, including the BBC, from entering Gaza, complicating efforts to verify the ongoing situation.
Recently, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by Israel and the US, has taken over the distribution of aid, intending to replace UN agencies. This new system mandates that civilians travel to distribution centers located in areas under Israeli military control, staffed by armed American security contractors. Palestinians are now compelled to walk long distances to collect aid, often carrying heavy boxes weighing up to 20 kg (44 lbs).
This shift from the previous UN system, which delivered aid directly to communities at 400 sites across Gaza, has raised significant concerns. The previous system ensured that all residents received food based on a population registry, while the GHF's first-come, first-serve approach forces Palestinians to queue for hours, often overnight, to secure their place in line.
The GHF has faced harsh criticism from UN bodies and the international community for allegedly weaponizing aid and violating humanitarian principles. In light of Tuesday's events, the GHF stated that while their distribution was conducted safely at their site, they acknowledged that the IDF is investigating reports of civilian injuries occurring outside their secure distribution area.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the violence, stating, "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site." He highlighted the grim reality facing Palestinians, caught between starvation and the risk of death while seeking vital food supplies.
In response to the earlier incident on Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported a mass influx of casualties at its hospital in Rafah, with 21 individuals pronounced dead upon arrival. The IDF's initial inquiry suggested that its forces did not fire upon individuals near the aid center, while the GHF refuted claims of injuries and casualties, attributing them to misinformation spread by Hamas.
UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed his horror at the reports of fatalities among Palestinians seeking aid, calling for an immediate and independent investigation into these tragic incidents and for those responsible to be held accountable.
This escalation in violence comes in the wake of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, initiated in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. Since the onset of this conflict, the territory's health ministry reports that over 54,470 people have been killed in Gaza, including 4,201 since the resumption of Israeli offensives on March 18.
