Scores Killed Near Gaza Aid Site Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
More than 51 Palestinians were reportedly killed and hundreds wounded in a fatal shooting incident near an aid distribution point in southern Gaza. Witnesses and rescuers claim Israeli forces opened fire on large crowds desperately waiting for food supplies, marking a stark example of the extreme dangers civilians face while trying to access humanitarian assistance.
The incident, which occurred near an aid site in Khan Younis, saw thousands of Palestinians gathered in the hope of receiving flour from a World Food Programme (WFP) site and a nearby community kitchen. Accounts from a local journalist and eyewitnesses suggest Israeli drones initially fired missiles, followed by a shell from an Israeli tank positioned nearby. This barragement reportedly resulted in a high number of casualties among the waiting crowd.
Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency stated that Israeli troops were responsible for the shooting, reporting at least 50 deaths and over 200 injuries.
Part of a Deadly Trend
While investigations into this specific event are underway, it represents the latest – and potentially deadliest – in a series of near-daily shootings that have plagued areas around aid distribution sites across Gaza. Aid groups and officials note a disturbing pattern where civilian casualties are increasingly linked to attempts to secure food rather than direct Israeli strikes on Hamas targets.
Reports from various sources, including health officials in Gaza, indicate that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands wounded under similar circumstances since new aid distribution systems, like those operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), began operating. Incidents involving multiple fatalities have been reported near GHF sites in other locations, including Rafah and central Gaza, where crowds gathering for aid have reportedly come under fire.
The UN human rights chief has sharply criticised the situation, alleging that food is being weaponised in the conflict and calling for full investigations into attacks near aid sites. UN agencies have reportedly declined to work directly with the GHF system.
Differing Accounts and Verification Challenges
The Israeli military (IDF) has stated it is reviewing the reports regarding the Khan Younis incident. In their account, the IDF indicated that a gathering was identified adjacent to a stuck aid truck in proximity to their troops operating in the area. They acknowledged reports of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd’s approach, stating the event is under review.
Typically, the IDF response to such incidents has involved claims that troops issued warnings for people not to approach and fired warning shots when individuals deemed “suspects” behaved in a threatening manner. However, detailed information beyond these general statements is often limited.
Verifying events on the ground in Gaza presents significant challenges, as Israel currently does not permit international news organisations, including the BBC, access to the territory.
Humanitarian System Under Strain
The critical state of healthcare facilities like Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis highlights the overwhelming pressure caused by the constant influx of casualties. Medical staff have warned that hospitals are struggling to cope with the volume of trauma injuries – often gunshot wounds – alongside severe shortages of medical supplies, exacerbated by evacuation orders in surrounding areas. Overcrowding means many wounded are treated on floors.
Aid distribution itself is fraught with peril. Despite IDF warnings against approaching sites during certain hours, Palestinians feel they have little choice but to risk gathering in large, often chaotic, crowds to access the extremely limited food supplies available. Video footage has shown massive, uncontrolled crowds rushing aid parcels. The GHF has even briefly closed sites previously in attempts to improve security. Beyond distribution points, people have also reportedly been shot while trying to reach aid convoys themselves as they move through the territory.
This breakdown in security and the functionality of the aid distribution system contributes significantly to the ongoing tragedy. Hamas has publicly described the aid centers as “death traps.” The desperate scramble for scarce resources is further complicated by reports of looting, criminal gangs, and other armed groups operating in these volatile areas.
Critics argue that new aid systems could inadvertently support efforts to displace Palestinians southward, although Israel maintains the alternative system is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid.
As the conflict, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, continues, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza according to the territory’s health ministry, the lack of a clear plan from involved parties to prevent the near-daily killing of civilians seeking basic sustenance remains a critical concern.
