KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) A tragic incident occurred on Sunday in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where at least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded during a shooting near food distribution points supported by Israel and the United States. Health officials reported the casualties, while witnesses attributed the gunfire to the Israeli military, which did not provide an immediate comment on the event.
According to eyewitness accounts, Israeli forces opened fire around dawn on crowds of Palestinians desperately trying to access aid at two sites in Rafah. This incident exacerbates growing concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where months of blockade and military operations have led to widespread hunger and the prospect of famine for a population exceeding two million people reliant on international aid.
The violence unfolded alongside a backdrop of ongoing hostilities, which have persisted for over 20 months following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. This initial assault initiated a series of escalated conflicts, including a notable Israeli airstrike against Iran just days ago.
The shooting incident is part of a troubling pattern at the distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This organization was introduced as an alternative to a United Nations-run aid system that has faced skepticism due to alleged violations of humanitarian principles. Since the distribution points' opening last month, there have been regular reports of violence, with health officials indicating that numerous people have been killed during these distributions. The military has acknowledged firing warning shots at suspects approaching its forces but maintains that there has been no blatant violence at the distribution sites.
Witnesses, however, recount harrowing scenes of agony. Ahmed al-Masri described the chaotic situation, stating, "There were wounded, dead, and martyrs. It’s a trap." Another witness, Umm Hosni al-Najjar, recounted the moments of panic as the shooting erupted shortly after she arrived at the aid point. She emphasized the chaos, noting, "No one was able to evacuate them." The Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis reported receiving eight bodies following the shooting, while Gaza's Health Ministry stated that a total of 65 individuals had been killed from Israeli strikes or gunfire within 24 hours.
The newly implemented aid distribution system has been marked by disorder and violence. The United Nations has criticized this framework, arguing that it fails to meet the needs of the population and enables Israel to exert control over who receives aid. Despite the chaos, Israel and the U.S. maintain that Hamas has exploited the UN system to divert aid, a claim that UN officials dispute, citing a lack of evidence for such systematic diversion. The aid points, located in Israeli military zones, remain inaccessible to independent media, further complicating the situation.
In the past week, Israel's military coordination body announced that 292 trucks of aid from international sources entered Gaza, a significant decrease compared to the 600 trucks that were crossing daily during earlier ceasefires. Meanwhile, desperate residents like Mohammad Misleh lamented the dire circumstances: "I feed my children bread and salt, I swear to God."
The ongoing military campaign has reportedly caused over 55,300 Palestinian deaths, predominantly among women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Although Israel claims to have targeted more than 20,000 militants, no clear evidence has been provided to validate these claims. Vast areas of Gaza have been destroyed, and around 90% of the population are now displaced, often multiple times due to the incessant conflict.
As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, the international community remains on high alert regarding the implications of the ongoing violence and the strained efforts to provide needed aid to those affected by the war in Gaza.
