Chaos and Casualties Reported Near Gaza Aid Centers
A deadly incident unfolded near humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, resulting in dozens of casualties. According to the Hamas-run health ministry and Palestinian medics, at least 31 people were killed and over 150 injured by alleged Israeli gunfire while queueing for aid. However, Israeli authorities and the aid organization involved have issued strong denials regarding the cause and nature of the events.
Reports from Palestinian sources detail two separate incidents. One occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Rafah, southern Gaza, as people gathered for humanitarian assistance. Another incident was reported near an aid center in central Gaza.
Doctors at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving a significant number of casualties. Medical staff from the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians indicated that 79 injured individuals arrived at Nasser Hospital, with many of the killed and injured sustaining injuries from live gunfire, including direct shots to the head or chest. A British surgeon working at the hospital described the scene as “absolute carnage,” with hospital bays filled with patients suffering from gunshot wounds. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as crowds gathered, followed by gunfire.
Due to limited access for ambulances in certain areas, local journalists and activists shared footage showing bodies and wounded people being transported by donkey carts and lorries to field hospitals and Nasser Hospital. A journalist in Rafah described Israeli tanks approaching and opening fire on a crowd near an aid center around 4:30 AM local time, leaving the dead and wounded on the ground as rescue crews struggled to access the area reportedly under Israeli control. Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesman told AFP news agency that over 100 people were wounded by gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards the crowd.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new organization reportedly backed by the US and Israel responsible for distributing aid at designated sites, denied that any incident occurred near its distribution centers. The GHF stated that reports of casualties were “false and fabricated,” claiming aid distribution proceeded without incident and accusing Hamas of spreading false information.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also strongly denied firing at civilians near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site. Findings from an initial inquiry indicated that IDF forces did not fire at civilians in these locations, stating reports to the contrary are “false.” The IDF suggested that reports were spread by Hamas, which they accused of seeking to undermine aid efforts and directly harm Gaza residents to maintain control. An IDF soldier in Rafah reportedly told the BBC that soldiers did fire near the crowd but not at them, and that no one was hit. The IDF later added they were unaware of injuries specifically caused by IDF fire within the site and that the matter was under review.
Humanitarian Crisis Context
These events underscore the dire humanitarian conditions gripping Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely restricted access to aid and essential services. Hunger and desperation have led to chaotic scenes at aid distribution points, including instances of civilians rushing aid trucks, as previously reported by the World Food Programme. The new aid mechanism involving the GHF was reportedly established after Israel accused Hamas of stealing aid, a charge Hamas denies.
The situation on the ground remains unclear due to these conflicting narratives and the difficulty of independent verification, as Israel does not allow independent access to Gaza for international media.
The incident occurs amidst ongoing efforts, including those led by the US, to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Hamas recently responded to a US proposal, offering to release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners but also reiterating demands for a permanent truce, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and guaranteed continuous aid flow – conditions not included in the current proposal.
The war began following Hamas’s cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed over 54,000 people, according to the territory’s health ministry.
References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c991j01lym3o
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c991j01lym3o
- https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c628n68zpj6t
- https://abcnews.go.com/International/21-killed-israeli-gunfire-gaza-aid-site-health/story?id=122391363
- https://english.news.cn/20250601/cf9daac4fea740e59543f1c90549af6d/c.html
