Medics report that Israeli forces have killed at least 12 Palestinians near an aid distribution site in Gaza, amid ongoing violence linked to aid delivery. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation denies the incident, while the Israeli military claims the group posed a threat. The situation illustrates the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
Tragic Incident in Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill 12 Waiting for Aid
Tragic Incident in Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill 12 Waiting for Aid
Tensions continue as at least 12 Palestinians are killed while seeking humanitarian aid in central Gaza, with conflicting reports on the circumstances of the incident.
At least 12 Palestinians have been reported killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid in central Gaza, according to medics and rescuers from the area. The incident occurred near an aid distribution point managed by the US- and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with claims that the victims were targeted while attempting to receive assistance on Thursday.
The GHF has refuted claims of any shooting incidents at its site, while the Israeli military asserts their forces fired warning shots at suspicious approaching individuals, denying knowledge of any injuries. This tragedy adds to the alarming frequency of shootings surrounding aid distribution centers in Gaza, with casualties increasingly linked to these humanitarian sites rather than direct military actions against Hamas targets.
As of Thursday, Gaza's health ministry announced that 12 individuals had died while seeking aid. The local civil defense agency reported conflicting higher figures, stating that 15 were killed and around 60 injured during the incident near the Netzarim corridor, which has seen daily gatherings of thousands seeking essential assistance.
Eyewitness Bassam Abu Shaar described a chaotic scene where the large crowd made it impossible for people to flee from Israeli gunfire that erupted at approximately 01:00 local time. The GHF has rebuked the health ministry's reports as inaccurate and misleading.
The Israeli military maintains that individuals were approaching its position in a hostile manner, and as tensions continue, Hamas has called for a return to UN-led humanitarian aid distribution, asserting the current system undermines essential humanitarian principles. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread hunger reported following an 11-week blockade that was somewhat alleviated only a month prior.
Civil defense teams have also been busy recovering numerous bodies following reports of Israeli shelling in various regions of the Gaza Strip, with several casualties resulting from an attack near the Jabalia refugee camp.
The crisis escalated following the Hamas-led assault on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, leaving over 55,000 people killed in Gaza according to local health authorities. The ongoing violence underscores the deteriorating humanitarian situation in a region grappling with profound challenges amid conflicting narratives and military actions.
