Israeli fire reportedly killed at least 12 people and injured others as they approached aid distribution points in the Gaza Strip. These points are operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization backed by Israel and the US, according to Palestinian health officials and witnesses on Sunday.
The Israeli military stated that warning shots were fired at individuals who approached their forces.
Recent weeks have seen repeated shootings near these new aid hubs, destinations for thousands of Palestinians desperate for food after 20 months of conflict.
According to Gaza hospital officials, witnesses claim Israeli troops have opened fire in the vicinity, resulting in over 80 deaths.
The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 108 bodies were taken to hospitals across the territory in the preceding 24 hours.
The Israeli military stated it struck numerous militant targets throughout Gaza during the same period.
Eleven of the most recent fatalities were received at Nasser Hospital located in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza.
Palestinian witnesses reported that Israeli forces fired upon individuals at a roundabout roughly half a mile from a GHF-managed site in nearby Rafah.
The Israeli military countered this claim, stating that warning shots were fired at approaching “suspects” who disregarded warnings to turn back.
They added that the incident occurred in an area designated as an active combat zone at night.
Al-Awda Hospital reported receiving the body of one man and 29 wounded individuals from the vicinity of another GHF aid point in central Gaza.
The military confirmed firing warning shots in that specific area around 6:40 AM, but claimed they observed no casualties.
A GHF official asserted that no violence occurred within or around its distribution sites, all three of which successfully delivered aid on Sunday.
The organization had briefly suspended operations the prior week to discuss safety protocols with the Israeli military and has advised individuals to adhere to designated access routes.
These new aid centers are situated within Israeli military zones, inaccessible to independent media.
The GHF also mentioned piloting a program involving direct delivery to a community north of Rafah.
Witness accounts indicate the shooting in southern Gaza transpired around 6:00 AM, the announced opening time for the site.
Driven by extreme need, many arrived early to try and secure food before the crowds grew.
Adham Dahman, 30, receiving treatment at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, recounted being fired upon by a tank. “We didn’t know how to escape,” he stated. “This is a trap for us, not aid.” Another witness, Zahed Ben Hassan, witnessed someone next to him being shot in the head. He reported that he and others retrieved the body and managed to escape to the hospital.
“They said it was a safe area from 6 AM until 6 PM,” he said. “So why did they start shooting at us? There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.”
