At least 20 Palestinians have been killed and injured near the aid site in Rafa: Medical staff
The region's health ministry said the Israeli fires died on Monday, half of which were near the aid allocation location operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, as UN officials condemned Israel's support for the Israeli-backed aid delivery method, so the region's health ministry said.
At least 20 people were killed and 200 others were injured near a assistance distribution site in Rafah, the latest daily mass shooting that killed hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach food since Israel imposed a new distribution system, and must lift the total lockdown for nearly three months.
Israel is responsible for allocating most of the aid it allows to distribute to Gaza in the hands of the Humanitarian Foundation of Gaza (GHF), which operates three locations in areas guarded by Israeli forces. The UN rejected the plan, saying that GHF is inadequately distributed, dangerous, and violates the principles of humanitarian justice.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Monday's shooting. In previous events, it occasionally acknowledged that troops opened fire near aid sites, while also attributed the militants to inspire violence.
Relatives arrive at Nasser Hospital to mourn the dead. Women and children cry beside their bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
“We went there and thought we would get help from the children we raised, but it turned out to be a trap, killing people. I advise everyone: don't go there.”
“Fatal Distribution System”
“Does of people have been killed and injured in the past few days, including hungry people who are trying to get some food from the deadly distribution system,” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Bureau, said in an article on X.
Prior to the establishment of the new system, AIDS was assigned to 2.3 million residents in Gaza, mainly by UN agents (such as UNRWA), which employ thousands of employees within Gaza and operate hundreds of locations across the breadth of the enclave.
Israel said that as Hamas fighters were transferring food aid, they had to crack down on distribution. The militants denied this and said Israel used starvation as a weapon.
Lazzarini said that despite the large amount of aid being prepared to enter the enclave, Israel has not lifted restrictions on UN agencies, including assistance.
On Sunday, Cogat, the Israeli Military Aid Coordination Agency, said this week it promoted 292 trucks of humanitarian aid from the United Nations and the international community to enter Gaza.
It said the Israeli military will continue to allow humanitarian aid to enter while ensuring it does not reach Hamas.
At least 300 people have died since the site opened
Before Monday's incident, the Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 300 people have been killed so far since the GHF began operations and more than 2,600 people have been injured near the aid allocation site.
Volker Turk, head of UN rights, told the UN Human Rights Commission on Monday that Israel “weaponized” food in Gaza. He repeated calls for an investigation into the deadly attack near the GHF distribution location.
“Israel's means of war and methods are causing fearsome, suffering to the Palestinians in Gaza,” Turk said.
He added: “The disconcerting, dehumanized speech by Israeli government officials is reminiscent of the worst crimes.”
Local health authorities say ten Palestinians were killed in Israeli tank fires in Gaza.
At least five people were killed Sunday as thousands of Palestinians approached two GHF distribution sites in the central and southern enclaves.
GHF said in a statement that it resumed food delivery on Sunday, distributing more than 2 million meals from its three distribution sites, with no incidents.
Twenty months ago, Hamas-led militants raided Israel and hijacked 251 people and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians on October 7, 2023.
According to Gaza's health authorities, Israel's military campaign killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and deprived most of the densely populated areas. Most people are displaced and widespread malnutrition is a major problem.
