Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 170 injured near a US-backed aid distribution point in Rafah on Sunday, allegedly due to Israeli gunfire.
The incident occurred at a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which, along with the Israeli military, denied the claims.
According to civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal, Israeli drones and tanks opened fire on civilians gathered at the aid center. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with some saying gunfire broke out suddenly while people were waiting for supplies. One man, Sameh Hamuda, recounted narrowly escaping after gunfire erupted. Images from the scene showed bodies being transported on donkey carts and injured individuals being carried away from the area.
The Israeli military stated that a preliminary investigation revealed no shots were fired at civilians near or within the aid center, and dismissed the reports as false. It also accused Hamas of attempting to disrupt aid efforts and manipulating media coverage. The GHF echoed this position, calling the reports fake and blaming Hamas for spreading misinformation.
This incident comes amid growing criticism of Israel over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Israel has recently allowed more aid to enter through a new distribution mechanism coordinated with the GHF, the process has faced obstacles, including logistical challenges and violence near aid centers. The United Nations and several major humanitarian groups have declined to work with the GHF, saying it undermines established humanitarian protocols and aligns too closely with military objectives.
Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, confirmed that her organization had received similar reports about the incident and stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and full humanitarian access. At local hospitals, foreign medical volunteers described overwhelming scenes, with patients suffering from gunshot wounds filling every available space.
Despite GHF’s report of distributing over 4.7 million meals since it began operations, the UN continues to express concern about the safety and integrity of aid efforts in Gaza. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini described the distribution process as a “death trap” and insisted that only the United Nations could safely and effectively manage humanitarian relief in the area.
What you should know
The reported killings at a Gaza aid distribution site have sparked controversy, with Gaza officials accusing Israel of firing on civilians and Israel firmly denying it.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new US-backed initiative, is under scrutiny, while the UN insists that aid delivery must return to international standards to protect civilians.
