Friday

07-04-2025 Vol 2011

Israeli Airstrikes and Shootings Claim Lives of Palestinians Seeking Aid in Gaza

DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A recent series of Israeli airstrikes resulted in the death of 15 Palestinians early on Friday, with additional reports indicating that another 20 individuals lost their lives amid gunfire while seeking humanitarian aid.

The U.N. human rights office revealed that over the past month, 613 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza while attempting to obtain assistance. Most of these fatalities occurred near food distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with others being killed while waiting for aid trucks from organizations like the United Nations.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the U.N. rights office, noted that although they could not attribute specific responsibility for all deaths, it is evident that the Israeli military has targeted Palestinians trying to reach these critical distribution points.

In her communication to The Associated Press, Shamdasani stated that of the total recorded deaths, 509 were “GHF-related,” indicating they occurred at or near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites.

“Information keeps coming in,” she added. “This is ongoing and it is unacceptable.”

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), however, refuted claims of significant casualties at its distribution sites. The organization questioned the legitimacy of the casualty figures reported by the U.N. and accused it of trying to discredit their efforts.

According to the Israeli army, troops only fire warning shots for crowd control or if threatened, maintaining that it operates within the scope of military regulations.

On Friday, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders in northeast Khan Younis, urging Palestinians to move westward in anticipation of further military operations against Hamas.

Witness accounts indicate that since GHF initiated food distributions in late May, Israeli forces have frequently opened fire towards crowds of Palestinians on the roads leading to aid centers. To access these sites, individuals must traverse several kilometers through areas controlled by the Israeli military.

Officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported at least three individuals were killed while en route to GHF distribution sites in the Rafah area in southern Gaza on Friday.

Additionally, 17 people were killed that day while awaiting aid trucks in eastern Khan Younis. Hospital officials confirmed this tragic outbreak of violence as desperate crowds gathered, often encompassing individuals intent on obtaining essential supplies.

Surviving witnesses described the harrowing scene, recounting how they were shot at while waiting in a military-designated area in Khan Younis. “There was direct firing,” said Seddiq Abu Farhana, who sustained a leg injury that forced him to drop a bag of flour he had managed to secure.

Missiles also targeted the Muwasi area on Gaza’s southern coastline, where numerous displaced Palestinians are sheltering in makeshift camps. Among the 15 individuals reported killed in these airstrikes were eight women and a child, according to hospital sources.

The Israeli military indicated they are currently investigating the airstrikes and had no immediate comment regarding the reported shootings near the aid trucks.

On Friday, the GHF responded to the U.N. report, expressing skepticism about the casualty figures and alleging that the U.N. was deriving its numbers directly from information provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, thereby perpetuating what they termed Hamas’ propaganda.

In contrast, Shamdasani of the U.N. rights office insisted that their data is collected from multiple trustworthy sources, including medical and humanitarian organizations.

Rik Peeperkorn, a representative for the World Health Organization, pointed out that Nasser Hospital, the primary medical facility in southern Gaza, is overwhelmed, treating dozens or even hundreds of casualties daily, many stemming from areas near the food distribution sites.

The situation has escalated to the extent that the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that its field hospital near a GHF site has been overwhelmed more than 20 times in recent months due to mass casualties, with most injuries incurred while individuals were en route to secure food aid.

On the same day, two Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in northern Gaza, adding to the already staggering toll, which has seen over 860 Israeli soldiers perish since the conflict began, including more than 400 during the ongoing battles in Gaza.

Despite the horrific events unfolding, attempts to achieve a truce seem to be gaining momentum.

While speaking to the media aboard Air Force One, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that there might be progress, stating, “We’ll see what happens. We’re going to know over the next 24 hours.” His remarks followed inquiries regarding whether Hamas had accepted the latest ceasefire framework.

Hamas is currently engaged in discussions with other Palestinian factions regarding a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, indicating they would respond to proposals after consultations were completed.

Earlier in the week, President Trump noted that Israel had tentatively agreed to the terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the arrangement before conditions deteriorated further.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that the death toll among Palestinians has surpassed 57,000, though the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. They report that more than half of the fatalities are women and children, with the data being cited by both the U.N. and international organizations despite its association with Hamas governance.

The conflict erupted following a deadly assault by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of around 250 individuals.

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Kullab reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten contributed from Geneva, and Julia Frankel aided in reporting.

image source from:apnews

Abigail Harper