In a tragic turn of events, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians gathering for food aid in Gaza, leading to the deaths of at least 32 individuals and injuring over 200 others. These attacks took place at two separate aid distribution sites on Sunday morning, with the largest incident occurring in Rafah, where Israeli tanks reportedly fired on a crowd waiting for supplies. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, at least 31 people were killed in this instance alone. Shortly thereafter, another victim was reported dead from gunfire at a similar site in Gaza City, thus intensifying the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The aid distribution was being managed by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial organization that has faced scrutiny and refusal of collaboration from the United Nations and other humanitarian groups. Critics have accused GHF of lacking neutrality and being complicit in Israeli military objectives in Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, described the current aid distribution mechanisms as “a death trap” following the recent violence.
Following the incidents, the Israeli military released a statement asserting that its forces did not target civilians near or within the humanitarian aid distribution sites. They described reports of civilian casualties as “false,” claiming findings from an initial inquiry indicated that soldiers did not fire on civilians. The military’s statement has been met with skepticism, particularly in light of witness accounts. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, a witness to the Rafah shooting, indicated that the crowd was approximately 300 meters away from the military when the firing began, resulting in multiple gunshot injuries.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported from central Gaza that civilians are facing lethal risks merely to find food for their children. Many people, despite being aware of the controversial nature of these distribution points, feel they have no other alternatives. Additionally, the parcels being given are described as insufficient; with reports indicating they often include minimally nutritious items such as a single kilogram of flour, a few bags of pasta, and some canned goods.
The GHF itself denied reports of mass casualties and characterized the situation as misrepresented, claiming soldiers issued “warning shots” to disperse crowds. However, the Palestinian Government Media Office condemned the GHF’s distribution sites as “mass death traps” rather than points of humanitarian relief. In a powerful statement, they accused the Israeli military of using aid as a tool of warfare to manipulate desperate civilians.
As international observers express concern about the systematic targeting of food aid efforts, it has become increasingly evident that the situation in Gaza is deteriorating. The current aid distribution, which has replaced over 400 previous points with barely four operational sites, does not meet the critical needs of the population, according to Bassam Zaqout from the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. He emphasized that the mechanism appears to have hidden agendas that do not consider the well-being of vulnerable populations such as the elderly and disabled.
The past week has proven deadly for the distribution project, following prior attacks at other distribution points that claimed the lives of an additional nine Palestinians. With crucial aid only trickling into Gaza after the partial lifting of a months-long blockade, conditions for more than two million residents have reached near-famine levels.
In parallel, Hamas has signaled its willingness to engage in renewed negotiations for a truce in Gaza, even as the Israeli military continues its operations. Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that military actions would persist against all targets, irrespective of ongoing negotiations, highlighting a stark contrast between military determination and diplomatic overtures.
The situation remains tense as international stakeholders look for avenues to address the humanitarian crisis while the conflict continues to escalate. As both sides navigate this complex landscape, the people of Gaza find themselves caught in the crossfire, struggling against an increasingly dire reality as they seek basic sustenance for survival.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/1/israel-kills-32-palestinians-waiting-for-food-at-us-backed-gaza-aid-sites
