Israeli Gunfire Near Gaza Aid Sites Kills 34 Palestinians/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At least 34 Palestinians were killed near food distribution points in southern Gaza, according to local medics. The shootings occurred near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid centers, with witnesses blaming Israeli forces. The incident highlights growing fears of famine amid war and aid blockades.
Israeli Gunfire Near Gaza Aid Sites Kills 34: Quick Looks
- 34 Palestinians killed near Gaza aid centers Monday, say medics.
- Shootings occurred as crowds approached GHF food distribution points.
- Witnesses report Israeli troops opened fire early in the morning.
- Israeli military has not commented on the latest deaths.
- Gaza Humanitarian Foundation warned aid-seekers to stay on designated paths.
- U.N. agencies have criticized the GHF system and denied aid theft.
- Health officials report growing casualties since food center system launched.
- Over 2 million Palestinians face food insecurity and famine risks.
- The GHF distribution system is backed by Israel and the U.S.
- Aid access remains a major flashpoint in the Israel-Hamas war.
Israeli Gunfire Near Gaza Aid Sites Kills 34 Palestinians
Deep Look
In a tragic development amid Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, at least 34 Palestinians were shot dead on Monday as they attempted to reach food distribution centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the south of the war-ravaged territory. The shootings took place in areas under Israeli military control, where thousands gather daily to seek scarce food supplies.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the deadliest incident occurred near Rafah, a southern city in Gaza where 33 people were killed as they tried to access aid at a GHF hub. Another individual was killed while heading to a different GHF center in central Gaza. The ministry confirmed an additional four deaths elsewhere across the strip.
Eyewitness Accounts and Mounting Chaos
Two survivors, Heba Jouda and Mohammed Abed, spoke with the Associated Press and described the harrowing scene near Rafah’s Flag Roundabout. They said Israeli troops began shooting at approximately 4 a.m., triggering panic among the crowd. The roundabout, located hundreds of meters from the actual food center, has been the site of repeated shootings since GHF began operating under an Israeli- and U.S.-backed system last month.
Witnesses claim that the gunfire was an attempt to control the swelling crowds, many of whom had veered off the designated access routes. Despite warnings from GHF to stick to approved paths for safety, many Palestinians stray in hopes of securing aid ahead of others. These unregulated movements, in an environment marked by extreme desperation and hunger, have repeatedly led to fatal encounters.
No Military Comment Yet
The Israeli military has not issued an official comment regarding Monday’s shootings. In previous incidents, it acknowledged firing warning shots when individuals it deemed suspicious approached military positions near the aid centers. Human rights groups have challenged these explanations, pointing to a pattern of excessive force.
GHF insists that no violence has occurred inside or directly at its centers. The contractor argues that its secured zones operate without interference, attributing the fatalities to mismanagement of the surrounding areas by military personnel and the desperation of the aid-seekers themselves.
A System Under Scrutiny
The aid distribution system, launched with support from Israel and the United States, was touted as a solution to prevent the diversion of aid to Hamas. Both countries claim that militant groups had previously siphoned humanitarian resources intended for civilians. However, GHF’s approach has come under fire from major humanitarian agencies.
U.N. organizations and leading aid groups have refused to collaborate with the GHF system. They argue it falls drastically short of meeting Gaza’s needs and accuse Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid by tying access to military control zones. These agencies also dispute claims of systematic Hamas interference in aid distribution, emphasizing that the vast majority of their deliveries go directly to civilians.
Rising Toll and Humanitarian Collapse
Since the GHF system was introduced last month, Palestinian health authorities say scores have died and hundreds more have been wounded attempting to reach the centers. The cumulative effect of daily shootings, collapsing infrastructure, and limited access to food is pushing Gaza’s population—over 2 million people—closer to famine.
International aid experts have repeatedly warned that the Israeli military campaign, coupled with restrictions on the entry of aid supplies, is creating catastrophic conditions for civilians. Without immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, widespread starvation could become unavoidable in the coming weeks.
The incident comes amid a 20-month conflict between Israel and Hamas that has devastated Gaza. While Israel maintains that its operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities and preventing future attacks, the scale of civilian casualties has drawn sharp international criticism.
A Call for Global Action
Humanitarian leaders and global policymakers continue to call for an urgent ceasefire and an overhaul of the current aid access system. They insist that neutrality in aid delivery and full U.N. access are the only paths to preventing further mass casualties among Gaza’s civilian population.
As the war grinds on, Monday’s tragedy at the GHF food distribution points underscores the human cost of conflict-driven policies that fail to protect the most vulnerable.
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