Escalation of Violence in Southern Gaza
At least 32 Palestinians were killed after Israeli troops opened fire on crowds of refugees seeking food from distribution hubs in southern Gaza, according to multiple witnesses. The incident took place near the sites operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which initiated operations in May. The GHF has been at the center of a controversial aid distribution system in the region.
A Shift in Aid Distribution
The United States and Israel are attempting to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza. They argue that Hamas militants siphon off supplies, but the UN denies these allegations. While the GHF claims to have distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses report that Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people trying to reach the hubs.
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The GHF’s four sites are located in military-controlled zones. On Saturday, the Israeli army stated it had fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. The incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. In contrast, the GHF claimed there were no incidents at or near its sites, adding that they have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to their sites during overnight and early morning hours.
Mass Gatherings and Tragic Outcomes
Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians gathered around 3 km (2 miles) from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis. Mahmoud Mokeimar described being with a large number of people, mostly young men, heading toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots before opening fire. “The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,” he said. He reported seeing at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, mentioned that troops used machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 am and 6 am. “They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Mr. Aker said, noting that he saw many casualties on the ground.
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Sanaa al-Jaberi described the shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. “Is this food or death? Why? They don’t talk with us, they only shoot us,” she said, showing her empty bag.
Impact on Local Hospitals
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser’s nursing department, stated that the facility received 70 wounded people. Most of the injured were shot in the head and chest.
“The situation is difficult and tragic,” he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor.
Controversial Aid System
The GHF’s presence in Gaza has sparked significant controversy. While the organization claims to be providing critical aid, the events surrounding its distribution centers have raised serious concerns about safety and accountability. The Israeli military’s involvement in securing these sites adds another layer of complexity to the situation, with conflicting accounts of what transpired during the deadly incidents.
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