Palestinians in Gaza experienced another wave of violence as they approached aid distribution centers run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Monday. Eyewitness accounts detailed that for the first time, locals were fired upon by Palestinian gunmen while also coming under fire from Israeli forces. The GHF confirmed it had provided food aid at two sites without incident, despite claims of dangerous circumstances at a facility in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported six deaths and 99 injuries linked to areas set aside for aid collection amidst ongoing violence. The Israeli military is currently investigating these events, with the GHF stating that the Tal al-Sultan center did not open on that day and that other sites handed out aid securely. This distribution occurs shortly after Israel's prime minister acknowledged arming Palestinian clans opposing Hamas.
Since the GHF began distributing aid on May 26, violence has frequently marred the process. Witnesses have mentioned that in previous instances, Israeli forces fired upon crowds, allegations which the military denies, instead claiming to target suspects who ignored warnings. On Monday, witnesses indicated both Israeli and local gunmen were involved in firing upon civilians, with claims of operating in tandem.
One witness recounted a harrowing moment as masked youths suddenly began shooting at a crowd that was simply trying to collect food aid. Others described narrowly escaping lethal gunfire amid the chaos. "We thought they were helping us, but they turned against us," said one eyewitness, highlighting the confusion and fear prevalent in such tense scenarios.
As hospital staff in Khan Younis tended to victims of these shootings, further reports indicated a total of 127 dead and 1,287 injured linked to aid distribution areas over recent weeks. The GHF maintains it has delivered over 11 million meals without encountering significant incidents, although growing tensions suggest a dire need for both accuracy in reporting and firm guarantees regarding safety protocols during aid distribution.
The Israeli military's ongoing campaign in Gaza stems from a response to an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in significant casualties and taking numerous hostages. The situation remains precarious, with at least 54,927 reported deaths in Gaza since that incident, illustrating the severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflict and logistical challenges in aid delivery.
