Gunfire from Israel leads to the death of 20 individuals near a humanitarian aid center in Gaza, as reported by local civil defense.
In the heart of Gaza, chaos and despair take center stage. Recent events have seen 20 innocent lives lost, and more than 200 injured, all while trying to gather food near a US-backed aid center. The tragedy unfolded at the Al-Alam roundabout in Rafah, as Israeli forces allegedly opened fire, according to Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza's civil defense agency.
The UN's Palestinian refugees agency UNRWA has expressed deep concern over the situation, calling it "lethal." Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, pointed out that scores of people have been killed and injured while trying to obtain food from this dangerous system. Life in Gaza has become a relentless struggle for survival, with 2.3 million residents facing an uphill battle.
These deadly incidents at aid distribution points operated by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have become all too common. Since the GHF began operations in late May, dozens of Palestinians have tragically lost their lives while trying to reach these distribution points. On Saturday, more than 20 Palestinians were killed at a GHF site.
Israel continues to face intense international scrutiny over humanitarian conditions in Gaza. In May, the UN dubbed it "the hungriest place on Earth." To add insult to injury, Israel had enforced a total aid blockade on Gaza for over two months before the GHF stepped in. According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, Gaza's entire population of more than 2 million people was at risk of famine.
Despite the abundance of aid ready to be delivered, Israel has not lifted restrictions on UN agencies bringing in aid. The UN and major humanitarian groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF due to concerns that it caters to Israeli military objectives. The US-backed aid operation has been labeled a "failure" by the UN and humanitarian groups for reasons of "principled humanitarian standpoint."
In a bid to ease tensions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to increase aid efforts to Gaza during a telephone conversation.
Israel's relentless attacks have claimed the lives of 5,139 people in Gaza since 18 March. The overall death toll since the conflict began on 7 October 2023 has reached 55,432, according to the health ministry. The conflict was ignited by a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to Israeli figures. The current situation remains fraught with danger and uncertainty.
War and conflicts in Gaza continue to dominate general news, with intense politics surrounding the situation. The ongoing violence, compounded by Israeli restrictions on aid delivery, has led to a humanitarian crisis, as evidenced by the recent incidents at US- and Israel-backed aid centers, such as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Crime and justice are also significant issues, as the UN and humanitarian groups refuse to cooperate with the GHF due to concerns that it serves Israeli military objectives, labeling it a "failure" from a principled humanitarian standpoint.
