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Multiple reports indicate that at least 26 Palestinians lost their lives and around 175 sustained injuries while attempting to collect food aid in the Gaza Strip. These figures come from officials within the Hamas-run health ministry and various eyewitnesses, yet Israeli authorities dispute these assertions.
According to witnesses, Israeli forces opened fire on crowds approximately 1,000 yards from an aid distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel. A journalist from the region recounted that thousands had gathered near the site in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza. As Israeli tanks approached, gunfire erupted, targeting the crowd.
The Israeli Defense Forces expressed that they are currently unaware of any injuries resulting from their fire at the humanitarian aid distribution site, stating this matter remains under investigation. In contrast, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation vehemently denied these allegations, declaring them as false and fabricated. They reported that all aid was distributed without incident on that day and attributed the circulation of these allegedly untrue claims to Hamas.
The foundation has previously dismissed claims of chaos and gunfire around its distribution sites. These sites fall within zones of Israeli military control, where independent access is often restricted.
In their statement, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation specifically criticized what they labelled as misinformation concerning deaths and injuries. Their distribution efforts have indeed faced challenges, including previous incidents where local health officials reported at least six fatalities and over 50 injuries prior to the most recent chaos.
Despite these accounts, the organization insists that private security personnel stationed at its sites have not discharged their firearms into the crowds. The Israeli military, meanwhile, maintains that it had previously fired warning shots in similar situations.
As dawn approached, thousands of individuals started making their way to the aid distribution site. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces instructed the crowds to disperse and return later. When the families reached the Flag Roundabout at approximately 3 a.m., they encountered gunfire from military positions.
Amr Abu Teiba, a witness to the event, recounted the scene vividly, stating that shots rang out from various directions, including naval vessels, tanks, and drones. He witnessed at least 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds, and many others suffered injuries, including women. Victims were transported to a nearby field hospital using makeshift carts.
Another eyewitness, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, relayed a similar narrative, describing numerous individuals with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. Additionally, Mohammed Abu Teaima reported that he witnessed Israeli forces open fire, resulting in the death of his cousin and another woman while they headed toward the aid site. He indicated that his cousin was shot in the chest and died on the spot, while others, including his brother-in-law, were also injured.
Witnesses have consistently reported that the Israeli military unleashed substantial gunfire directed at the gathering individuals, raising concerns about the conduct of forces during humanitarian aid operations.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, there’s a broader context surrounding the aid distribution in Gaza. Both Israel and the United States, supporters of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, have developed a new aid system intended to hinder Hamas from diverting aid supplies. However, Israel has not substantiated accusations of systematic diversion, a claim the United Nations has also refuted.
Amid these conflicts, major U.N. agencies and prominent humanitarian organizations have opted out of collaborating with the newly established aid system. They argue the system undermines humanitarian principles since it grants Israel control over who receives aid and necessitates that individuals physically relocate to specific distribution points.
The U.N. system has faced considerable hurdles in delivering aid, particularly following Israel’s recent decision to slightly ease its comprehensive blockade on Gaza. Aid organizations have contended that Israel’s restrictions, compounded by a breakdown of law and order and rampant looting, have created significant barriers to providing assistance to the Palestinian population in Gaza.
The situation remains fluid and requires ongoing scrutiny as conflicting narratives continue to emerge. Witness accounts, official statements, and the implications of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza illustrate the challenging dynamics at play.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
