RAFAH (Gaza Strip): At least 31 people were killed and more than 150 injured on Sunday as they attempted to collect food aid in southern Gaza, according to local health officials and eyewitnesses. The incident occurred roughly one kilometre from a distribution site operated by an Israeli-backed foundation.
Witnesses reported that Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd as it approached the area. “There was fire from all directions—naval ships, tanks, and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, who was among those gathered near the Flag Roundabout around 3 a.m.
The Israeli military stated it was “currently unaware of injuries caused by [Israeli] fire within the humanitarian aid distribution site.” The aid foundation, supported by Israel and the U.S., said it completed its deliveries “without incident” and denied previous reports of chaos and gunfire at its locations, which are situated in Israeli-controlled military zones with restricted access for independent observers.
This marks the latest and deadliest incident linked to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations, which have been plagued by disorder and violence since launching last week. Prior to Sunday’s events, at least six people were reported killed and over 50 injured during aid distributions, according to local officials.
Thousands of Gazans had begun gathering hours before dawn, hoping to receive urgently needed supplies. Witnesses said Israeli forces initially ordered the crowd to disperse and return later. However, when the crowd reached the area near the distribution point, gunfire erupted.
The aid delivery system, jointly promoted by Israel and the United States, is intended to prevent Hamas from intercepting or misappropriating humanitarian assistance. However, no evidence of systematic diversion has been made public, and UN agencies have rejected the system, citing concerns over its alignment with humanitarian principles.
Major international aid groups and UN agencies have refused to cooperate with the new mechanism, arguing that it undermines established humanitarian norms and bypasses coordinated relief frameworks.
