In a heartrending report, rescuers in Gaza confirm that 31 individuals lost their lives in an area close to an aid facility, following alleged actions by Israel.
Smoke ascends in the skies above Gaza City following an Israeli strike, June 1, 2025.
Gaza's civil defense agency claimed that at least 31 Palestinians were shot dead near an aid distribution center backed by the US, on Sunday, yet both the controlling group of the site and the military denied any such incident had occurred.
The Gaza Strip's Humanitarian Disaster
The Israel-ravaged Gaza Strip is currently under intense scrutiny, with the United Nations warning that the entire population faces a real risk of famine since no aid has been permitted to enter for over two months. Israel has been dealing with significant condemnation for the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
Recent Developments in Aid Distribution
In recent times, Israel eased its blockade and introduced a revamped aid mechanism in cooperation with a new US-backed organization, bypassing the longstanding UN-led system. This organization, known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), claims it has distributed millions of meals since operations started last week, but the endeavor has been marked by disorderly scenes at the limited number of distribution centers.
Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal shared with AFP that "the clash resulted in 31 casualties and over 176 injuries... as Israeli gunfire targeted thousands of civilians near the American aid center in Rafah," in southern Gaza. AFP imagery showed Palestinians transporting bodies on donkey carts near the aid point while others gathered away supplies under the early morning sun.
Chaos and Allegations
58-year-old Palestinian man Abdullah Barbakh described the "mayhem" at the site, claiming, "The army fired from drones and tanks." He questioned, "Why do they summon people to aid centers and then open fire on them?"
Mahmud Bassal pointed to another GHF aid center in central Gaza, where he reported one dead and dozens wounded, again placing the blame on Israeli fire. The Israeli military stated an initial inquiry found its troops "did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false."
Denials and Counterclaims
A GHF spokesperson also denied any deaths or injuries had transpired, adding that "these false reports have been incited by Hamas."
A displaced 33-year-old Palestinian man from northern Gaza, Sameh Hamuda, recalled walking from Gaza City and spending the night with family near Rafah before heading to the aid center around 5:00 am to join a crowd of people. He stated, "Suddenly quadcopter drones opened fire on the people, and tanks started shooting heavily. Several individuals were killed right before my eyes."
The Reality of Life in Gaza
Umm Muhammad Abu Khousa, a mother from central Gaza, shared with AFP that her son had been wounded near the other aid center in Bureij. She sorrowfully asked, "You feed me and then you kill me?"
British surgeon Victoria Rose, who was visiting Nasser Hospital where many of the injured from Rafah were treated, described a scene of "complete devastation," expressing that "all the bays are full, and they're all gunshot wounds."
The World Food Programme's Executive Director, Cindy McCain, stated in an interview with a US broadcaster, "our people are reporting the same thing on the ground." She pleaded, "What we need right now is an immediate ceasefire, complete, unfettered access... to feed people and stop this catastrophe from happening."
Only a limited amount of aid has entered Gaza since Israel eased its total blockade that began in March. The UN and the WFP have indicated looting of some supplies, particularly by gunmen, according to recent reports. On Friday, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency termed Gaza "the hungriest place on earth."
GHF, utilizing US security contractors, declared on Sunday that it had already distributed over 4.7 million meals' worth of food. The United Nations and major aid groups have turned down cooperation with the organization, arguing it violates basic humanitarian principles and appears geared toward furthering Israeli military objectives.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, stated on Sunday that "aid distribution in Gaza has become a death trap." He added, "Aid deliveries and distribution must be at scale and safe. In Gaza, this can only be achieved through the United Nations including UNRWA."
The Hunt for a Ceasefire
Almost 20 months into the war, negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal have yet to produce a breakthrough. Since the last temporary truce crumbled in March, Israel has amplified its strikes on Hamas, the Palestinian group responsible for the October 7, 2023 attack initiating the war.
Despite Hamas declaring that it had positively responded (although with requested changes) to the most recent US-backed truce proposal on Saturday, US envoy Steve Witkoff criticized the response as "totally unacceptable," an assessment echoed by Israel. Witkoff urged the group to "accept the framework proposal we put forward."
Qatar and Egypt, acting as mediators in ceasefire talks throughout the war, underscored the "importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the obstacles faced by the negotiations" in a joint statement. Hamas declared readiness "to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention."
Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly advised the army "to continue advancing in Gaza against all objectives, regardless of any negotiations." The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza affirmed that at least 4,149 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, with the overall toll reaching 54,418, mostly civilians.
- The chaos and allegations surrounding the recent aid distribution in Gaza extend beyond war-and-conflicts, also involving politics, as both Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have issued denials and counterclaims regarding incidents of Palestinian fatalities and injuries.
- Amidst this humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the distribution of aid is not limited to general-news; it also encompasses crime-and-justice issues, with reports of looting of supplies and allegations of Israeli troops using lethal force against civilians at aid centers.
