Israeli gunfire near a Gaza aid distribution center killed six Palestinians and wounded several others, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. The incident occurred Saturday morning as people gathered to receive food supplies. A Civil Defence spokesperson stated that Israeli forces opened fire when individuals attempted to approach the distribution site. Eyewitness accounts corroborate this.
The Israeli military countered that warning shots were fired at individuals approaching in a threatening manner. This incident follows a week of similar events resulting in dozens of Palestinian fatalities and hundreds injured while attempting to access aid.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the center with US and Israeli backing, temporarily suspended operations due to overcrowding and safety concerns. Despite this, Palestinians have continued to gather daily near the distribution point, navigating an Israeli military zone.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Gazans were previously informed the area was an active combat zone during nighttime hours. The GHF also reported that food distribution was halted on Saturday due to alleged threats from Hamas, a claim Hamas denies. This latest incident is likely to intensify international criticism of the aid distribution model.
The United Nations has voiced concerns, asserting that the current system endangers Palestinians and fails to adequately address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Separately, Civil Defence reported at least 15 additional Palestinian deaths from Israeli airstrikes on a residential building in Gaza City, with some casualties reportedly trapped under rubble. The IDF stated the strikes targeted the head of the Mujahideen Brigades, a Palestinian militant group accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7th attacks, including the death of Thai national Nattapong Pinta whose body was recovered Friday.
Following a three-month blockade, Israel recently resumed limited aid delivery to Gaza, primarily through the GHF. However, the GHF’s operations have been highly controversial. Reports indicate over 60 Palestinians were killed by gunfire in the days following the GHF’s commencement of operations; multiple witnesses attributed these deaths to Israeli soldiers. The IDF stated it fired warning shots initially, then shot near suspects advancing on their positions on the third day, claiming to be investigating the incidents.
The GHF operates four distribution centers in Gaza, part of a new aid system condemned by humanitarian groups. This system aims to bypass the UN, which Israel accuses of failing to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies. The UN denies these allegations, asserting accountability for all distributed aid and deeming the GHF system unworkable and unethical. This follows nearly 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken during the October 7th attacks, and a reported 54,677 deaths in Gaza since the war began, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Additional reports indicate at least one Palestinian fatality and 30 injuries from an Israeli strike on tents in Khan Younis. Israeli-Americans Judi Weinstein Haggai (70) and Gadi Haggai (72) were killed during the October 7th attacks. The Anglican Church condemned an attack on al-Ahli hospital, which Israel claims targeted a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative.