Israeli forces have reportedly killed over 51 Palestinians and injured many more after opening fire near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, according to witnesses and rescue workers.
The civil defense agency, run by Hamas, stated that Israeli troops targeted crowds near the aid site in Khan Younis, resulting in more than 200 reported injuries.
The Israeli military has stated to the BBC that they are investigating these claims.
This incident is the latest in a series of nearly daily shootings occurring near aid distribution points in Gaza, and it could be among the deadliest.
In recent days, most of the casualties in Gaza have been associated with the distribution of aid rather than Israeli strikes targeting Hamas.
Eyewitnesses report that Israeli forces opened fire and shelled an area near a junction to the east of Khan Younis, where thousands of Palestinians had gathered in hopes of receiving flour from a World Food Programme (WFP) site, which also includes a community kitchen.
A local journalist and other witnesses indicated that Israeli drones launched two missiles, followed by artillery fire from a tank situated between 400 and 500 meters away from the crowd. The resulting explosions led to numerous casualties.
The gathering took place near a crucial road leading to the town of Bani Suheila, an area that has experienced ongoing Israeli military operations for weeks.
Nasser Hospital, the primary medical facility still operational in the region, is currently overwhelmed with casualties. The situation is so dire that many wounded individuals are being treated on the floor due to the lack of space.
Video footage showing the immediate aftermath of the incident has been verified by BBC as occurring in Khan Younis. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, informed AFP that at least 50 people lost their lives. “Israeli drones targeted the civilians. Moments later, Israeli tanks fired several shells into the crowd, which resulted in a significant number of fatalities and injuries,” he stated.
In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that “a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that became stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and near IDF troops operating in the vicinity.” They expressed they were “aware of reports concerning several injured individuals due to IDF fire following the crowd’s approach,” and noted that the incident is under review.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced it had received notifications of a mass casualty incident. “This incident is yet another consequence of a food distribution initiative,” remarked Thanos Gargavanis, a trauma surgeon and emergency officer with WHO. “There is a persistent correlation between the locations of the designated food distribution sites and the mass casualty events,” he continued, mentioning that the majority of recent trauma injuries stem from gunshot wounds.
For weeks, medical professionals have voiced concerns that Nasser Hospital risks becoming overwhelmed and may be unable to continue its operations amid the burden of rising casualties, shortages of medical supplies, and Israeli evacuation orders in the surrounding areas.
In recent days, the hospital has faced a relentless surge of casualties resulting from shooting incidents near aid distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by Israel and the US, in southern and central Gaza.
Witnesses from nearly all these incidents report that Israeli troops have been responsible for opening fire, though there have also been accounts of local armed groups targeting individuals.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) typically assert that their troops issued warnings to those approaching, firing warning shots when what they refer to as “suspects” behaved in a way considered threatening. Beyond this explanation, the IDF has provided scant details.
Access for international news organizations, including the BBC, into Gaza is restricted by Israel, complicating efforts to verify conditions on the ground.
In response to the shootings, the GHF has stated that such incidents should not be linked to their operations, maintaining that they occur away from their actual sites. However, it is evident that the surge of Palestinians seeking limited food supplies is directly influenced by the distribution system that has been established.
The IDF has also instructed Palestinians to avoid aid distribution sites from 18:00 to 06:00 local time. Yet, to reach these locations and secure food, many see little alternative.
Verified footage from GHF locations depicts large crowds of Palestinians urgently attempting to obtain food parcels, seemingly without adequate oversight from the organization. To address security concerns, the GHF has temporarily closed its sites on at least two occasions.
Similar risks arise from the alternative method of delivering aid to Gaza, with around 100 trucks permitted by Israel daily. Increasingly, individuals have come under fire while trying to access resources from both distribution points and the aid convoys en route.
This situation illustrates a breakdown in both security within Gaza and the aid distribution framework itself.
Hamas has condemned the recent incidents, labeling the aid centers as death traps. Meanwhile, looting among a populace desperate for food—including actions by criminal gangs, militias, and Hamas pursuing their own aims—has exacerbated the perilous environment.
Critics argue that the GHF is facilitating an Israeli government strategy to displace Palestinians further south into more confined areas of Gaza. However, Israel contends that the alternative system is essential to prevent Hamas from diverting aid.
On Monday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk accused Israel of weaponizing food and called for a comprehensive investigation into the shootings. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA—the UN agency for Palestinian refugees—remarked that tragedies in Gaza continue unabated while the world’s focus shifts elsewhere.
It appears there is a significant absence of coordinated efforts from Israel, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or the international community to stop the ongoing loss of Palestinian lives as they venture out daily in search of scarce food supplies.
In the aftermath of Israel’s military campaign launched 20 months ago in response to the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023—which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals—Gaza continues to endure devastating consequences.
Tragically, more than 55,297 people have lost their lives in Gaza since that deadly day, as reported by the local health ministry.
