Israeli Fire Near US-Backed Gaza Aid Kills 32 Palestinians/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli forces opened fire near U.S.- and Israeli-backed food aid centers in Gaza, killing at least 32 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The victims were reportedly seeking food during chaotic scenes near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution sites. The incident deepens the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as tensions over aid access rise.
Gaza Food Aid Violence: Quick Looks
- At least 32 Palestinians killed near food aid centers in Gaza
- Israeli troops fired near crowds at U.S.-backed GHF hubs
- Three separate incidents left dozens more wounded, hospitals overwhelmed
- GHF denies on-site violence; blames chaos on Hamas agitators
- One victim had gunshot wounds; Israeli army claims ‘warning shots’
- Humanitarian aid access remains deadly and chaotic in Gaza Strip
- Nasser Hospital reports bullet wounds to heads and chests
- Gaza on brink of famine as war enters 21st month
- GHF accused of poorly managed and militarized aid distribution
- Ceasefire talks in Qatar continue without breakthroughs
Deep Look: Dozens Killed in Gaza Amid Chaos at U.S.-Backed Food Aid Sites
Deep Look
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — At least 32 Palestinians were killed Saturday when Israeli troops opened fire near food distribution sites run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to witnesses and Gaza hospital officials. The violence underscores the deepening humanitarian disaster in the war-torn enclave and the deadly consequences of chaotic aid access.
Deadly Incidents Near Aid Hubs
The fatal confrontations occurred in southern Gaza, particularly near Teina, east of Khan Younis, and Shakoush, near Rafah. In Teina, eyewitnesses described a deadly volley of gunfire as hundreds of people — mostly young men — approached a food hub before sunrise.
Mahmoud Mokeimar, one of the survivors, said:
“It was a massacre… the occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately.”
Other witnesses, like Akram Aker, reported that Israeli troops used machine guns mounted on tanks and drones. According to several accounts, the shootings happened between 5 and 6 a.m., hours before the distribution center opened.
Sanaa al-Jaberi, a 55-year-old woman at the scene, said:
“We shouted ‘food, food,’ but they didn’t talk to us. They just opened fire.”
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, officials said they received 25 bodies and 70 wounded, most suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Seven additional people were confirmed dead in the Shakoush area, including one woman, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hospitals Overwhelmed
Dr. Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser’s nursing department, called the situation “difficult and tragic” due to a lack of essential medical supplies.
“Our intensive care unit is overwhelmed, and we don’t have what we need to handle this daily influx of casualties.”
Families gathered outside the hospital, mourning the dead. Among them was Monzer Fesifes, who lost his 19-year-old son Hisham:
“He went to bring food from the failed U.S., Zionist aid to feed us.”
Conflicting Narratives
The Israeli military confirmed it had fired “warning shots” near Rafah after individuals approached their troops and ignored orders to stay away. The military said it was investigating reports of casualties and emphasized that the GHF site was closed at the time of the shooting.
The GHF, meanwhile, denied that violence occurred at or near its sites, claiming instead that the Israeli fire took place far from their aid hubs and hours before they opened. In a statement, the group said:
“We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”
This marks the latest in a string of deadly incidents near GHF operations. Earlier in the week, 20 people died in a stampede at one site. The group accused Hamas agitators of inciting panic but offered no supporting evidence.
Videos shared by GHF contractors and reviewed by the Associated Press show guards using tear gas, stun grenades, and even live ammunition to control crowds. Witnesses also describe scenes of uncontrolled chaos as boxes of food were dumped on the ground, prompting people to rush in desperation.
Airstrikes Add to Toll
Elsewhere in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced families in Gaza City killed two Palestinians, according to Fares Awad, head of ambulance and emergency services. The strike hit a courtyard at the Development Ministry, though no information was given on the specific target.
The Israeli military claimed it had struck over 90 targets in the last 24 hours, saying it killed militants and destroyed “terror infrastructure.”
Context: Aid Crisis in Gaza
The GHF began operations in May, aiming to replace the U.N.-led distribution model, which Israel and the U.S. accuse of indirectly aiding Hamas. The U.N. has denied the claim, stating that aid diversion is not a systemic issue.
But the GHF has come under criticism for poor planning, limited transparency, and the militarized nature of its delivery process. The lack of coordination with humanitarian agencies has led to overcrowding, dangerous conditions, and deadly altercations.
Gaza’s population of over 2 million remains on the brink of famine, according to international aid experts. With infrastructure shattered and aid access restricted, desperation has fueled tragedy.
Ongoing Conflict
The current war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign that has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
While the ministry is part of the Hamas-led government, its casualty figures are widely regarded by the U.N. and other humanitarian groups as credible. The data indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.
Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated in Qatar, have continued for weeks with no breakthroughs reported by international officials.
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