A deadly incident near an aid distribution site in Gaza on Sunday has prompted a strong call from the United Nations for an immediate and independent investigation. Disputed reports emerged following the event, with Palestinian sources and aid groups detailing significant casualties among people attempting to access vital food aid, while Israeli authorities denied their forces fired upon civilians at or near the site.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated he was “appalled” by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured, calling it “unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.” He stressed the need for perpetrators to be held accountable and reiterated Israel’s “clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid.”
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Witnesses and sources within Gaza provided grim accounts of the incident near an aid distribution center in Rafah, operated by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Reports from the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency claimed Israeli gunfire targeted thousands of civilians, resulting in at least 31 people killed and 176 wounded. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated its field hospital in Rafah received a “mass casualty influx” of 179 cases, including women and children, from the area. The majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds, and 21 were declared dead upon arrival. All patients reportedly said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site.
Teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also treated seriously injured individuals at Nasser hospital, with patients reporting being shot at from multiple directions, allegedly by Israeli drones, helicopters, boats, tanks, and soldiers. A journalist in Rafah corroborated accounts of Israeli tanks approaching a crowd near the GHF site and opening fire. Agence France-Presse (AFP) photos reportedly showed civilians carrying bodies, and medics described receiving a “deluge of gunshot wound victims.”
In stark contrast, the Israeli military (IDF) denied that its troops fired at civilians near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site, labeling such reports as “false” based on an initial inquiry. An IDF spokesman accused Hamas of “spreading rumours” and attempting to obstruct aid distribution. The IDF also released drone footage it claimed showed armed individuals firing at civilians heading for aid, though the timing and location were unverified by external media.
Later, an Israeli military official acknowledged that “warning shots were fired” approximately 1km from the GHF site before it opened, aimed at preventing “suspects” from approaching forces, but insisted this had “no connection” to the allegations against the IDF.
The GHF itself vehemently denied that any deaths or injuries occurred at its facility, calling the reports “outright fabrications” and blaming Hamas for disseminating “fake reports.” The US ambassador to Israel echoed these denials, accusing major news outlets of “reckless and irresponsible reporting” and asserting that evidence showed no injuries or shooting, attributing the stories solely to Hamas sources.
Challenges in Verification and Aid Delivery
Verifying events on the ground in Gaza remains exceptionally difficult, as Israel does not permit international news organizations, including outlets like the BBC, access to the territory.
The incident also highlights complexities surrounding aid distribution in Gaza. The GHF represents a new mechanism for aid delivery, reportedly backed by Israel and the US and utilizing private US security contractors. It is noted that GHF distributions bypass the long-established UN-led system, with the UN declining to work directly with the GHF due to concerns over its neutrality and suggestions by some aid agencies that the GHF-led system appears designed to align with Israeli military objectives.
Further Incidents and Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Tragically, reports emerged the following day, Monday, of another incident near the same GHF center in Rafah, resulting in further casualties. Health officials and local media reported three Palestinians killed by Israeli fire. The Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, mostly with gunshot and shrapnel injuries, including two declared dead on arrival, while a third body was taken to Nasser hospital. The Israeli military again confirmed firing “warning shots” toward “suspects” approximately 1km from the site on Monday and stated details were being investigated.
These events unfold amidst a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the UN warns the entire population of over two million faces the risk of famine after approximately 20 months of conflict and severe restrictions on aid. Aid is described as barely “trickling in,” falling far short of the immense needs. Attempts to repair vital infrastructure like water pipelines or distribute potable water in displacement camps have reportedly been denied.
Humanitarian officials also report ongoing attacks on health facilities and highlight renewed displacement orders affecting tens of thousands of people, further compressing the population into shrinking areas, particularly near the Egyptian border. Some analysts characterize the trend of forced evacuations and the state of designated areas as potentially serving broader aims of permanent displacement or “ethnic cleansing.”
The broader conflict context remains critical. Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza and resumed a military offensive aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during the 7 October 2023 attack, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel. The offensive, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated would involve taking control of all areas of Gaza, has resulted in a devastating death toll. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 54,470 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The UN Secretary-General’s call for an independent investigation underscores the urgent need for clarity and accountability regarding the events at the aid distribution site, as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to deepen.
References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c753e0p29z0o
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1163926
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/middle-east-crisis/article/2025/06/02/un-chief-calls-for-investigation-into-deaths-near-gaza-aid-site6741929368.html
- https://www.un.org/en/?
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/2/israeli-forces-kill-more-people-near-aid-site-in-gaza-as-un-demands-probe
