Israeli Troops Fire Shots, 1 Killed and 48 Wounded at Gaza Food Hub/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A Palestinian was killed and 48 wounded when chaos erupted at a U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid distribution site. Crowds overwhelmed the facility amid starvation, prompting Israeli warning shots as helicopters and tanks mobilized nearby. The aid model has faced global criticism from humanitarian groups who warn it violates international law.
Gaza Aid Clashes: Quick Looks
- Fatal Chaos: 1 dead, 48 wounded during Gaza aid stampede
- Israeli Forces Fire Warning Shots: Helicopters, tanks deployed near Rafah hub
- GHF Denies Firing: Private contractors reportedly pulled back, resumed aid later
- U.N. Criticism: New system “exposes civilians to injury and death”
- Humanitarian Concerns: Aid tied to facial scans, restricted movement, and relocation
- New Hubs Rejected by NGOs: UN refuses to participate, citing coercive tactics
- Netanyahu Defends Plan: Says “sterile zone” relocation still on table
- Yemen Tensions Escalate: Israel bombs Sanaa airport, destroys final Yemenia jet
Israeli Troops Fire Shots, 1 Killed and 48 Wounded at Gaza Food Hub
Deep Look
Violence Erupts at Gaza Food Aid Site: 1 Dead, Dozens Injured as Humanitarian Crisis Escalates
DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP — May 28, 2025 — A chaotic aid distribution effort in southern Gaza turned deadly Tuesday as desperate civilians broke through barriers at a newly opened food center, triggering warning shots from nearby Israeli forces. Health officials report at least one person was killed and 48 others injured in the incident.
The distribution hub, operated by the U.S.- and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), had been swarmed by starving Palestinians after nearly three months of Israeli-enforced border closures. An AP journalist at the scene witnessed tank fire, helicopter flares, and heard repeated gunfire as control disintegrated.
The Israeli military said warning shots were fired to manage the crowds, while GHF denied its private security forces fired on civilians. The organization said its team followed “safety protocols” and temporarily withdrew before resuming aid operations.
U.N. Condemns Aid Strategy
The United Nations Human Rights Office sharply condemned the incident. “What we saw yesterday is a very clear example of the dangers of distributing food under these circumstances,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. office for Palestinian territories. “The new system is exposing people to death and injury after 19 brutal months of war.”
International aid groups, including the U.N., have refused to participate in GHF’s operations, warning that the model violates humanitarian principles. Critics argue the setup may amount to forced displacement by concentrating aid distribution to specific zones, pressuring civilians to relocate or risk starvation.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation currently runs four food distribution hubs, two of which are operational in Rafah. Each is surrounded by chain-link fencing, sand berms, and guarded by private armed contractors. Israeli military positions are stationed just beyond the aid corridors, creating a volatile environment.
Israel’s Defense and Aid Control Narrative
Israel says the new system is necessary to prevent Hamas from hijacking aid. However, U.N. officials have countered that no credible evidence has been presented showing systemic diversion of supplies. GHF’s protocol includes facial recognition technology and controlled access — a practice criticized for dehumanizing recipients and compromising privacy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged “some loss of control” at the Rafah aid center, but stated that the situation was quickly contained. He reiterated plans to relocate Gaza’s population to a “sterile zone” in the south — a move many human rights advocates call a form of ethnic cleansing.
Netanyahu also continues to advocate for voluntary emigration of Gaza residents — a proposal that has drawn widespread condemnation as a veiled strategy for depopulation.
Violence Spills Beyond Gaza: Yemen Airstrikes
The chaos in Gaza coincided with Israel escalating its military actions in Yemen. On Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on the international airport in Sanaa, destroying the last functional aircraft of the national carrier Yemenia. The move follows recent missile launches by Houthi rebels targeting Israel in solidarity with Gaza.
Video footage from the scene shows the Yemenia jet in flames, severed on the tarmac amid widespread debris. The airline had planned to transport Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. All operations from the airport have been suspended.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strikes and warned of continued retaliation. “Whoever doesn’t understand it by force — will understand it by more force,” Netanyahu declared.
The Houthis are part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” and have launched several missile attacks on Israel during the Gaza conflict. While most were intercepted, a few breached Israel’s defenses, causing limited damage.
Casualties Mount in Gaza War
Tuesday’s food hub tragedy is the latest in a long line of suffering since the war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Of those, 58 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, with at least a third believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The toll includes a vast number of women and children, though the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.
As civilians in Gaza continue to endure bombardment, famine, and forced displacement, the breakdown of aid delivery systems signals a grim trajectory — one where survival depends less on logistics and more on politics and power.
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