At least 21 Palestinians were killed and more than 170 injured in the early hours of Sunday morning as they moved toward a food aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and eyewitness accounts. The violence erupted approximately one kilometer from a humanitarian site operated by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Eyewitnesses claim Israeli forces opened fire on the gathering crowd as they approached the Flag Roundabout, roughly 1,000 yards from the distribution hub. The Israeli military released a brief statement asserting it was “currently unaware of injuries caused by [Israeli military] fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site,” adding that “the matter is still under review.”
Local medical officials at a Red Cross field hospital, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, confirmed the death toll at 21, with another 175 wounded. Two women were among the deceased, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of records at Gaza’s Health Ministry. An Associated Press journalist reported witnessing dozens of victims receiving treatment at the hospital.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos and Heavy Gunfire
Multiple witnesses described scenes of terror and confusion. Thousands of residents had begun walking toward the aid site before dawn, only to be ordered to disperse by Israeli troops. Witnesses said gunfire erupted when the crowds reached the roundabout shortly after 3 a.m.
“There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, a Gaza resident who claimed to have seen at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds.
Another witness, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, recounted similar scenes, stating that gunfire came from about 300 meters away. “We weren’t able to help him,” he said of a man who died on the spot.
Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said his cousin and another woman were killed by Israeli gunfire as they made their way to the distribution center. “They opened heavy fire directly toward us,” he said while awaiting updates outside the hospital on his injured brother-in-law.
Disputed Narrative and Tense Aid Operations
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates under Israeli security oversight, maintains that it successfully distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday “without incident,” dismissing reports of deaths and injuries as “false reporting.” The foundation also denied claims that its private security contractors fired on civilians.
However, local health officials report that this is not the first deadly episode. Prior to Sunday’s incident, at least six people had already been reported dead and over 50 injured in similar aid-related gatherings. The Israeli military has previously acknowledged firing warning shots at such crowds.
A Controversial Aid Framework
The distribution site is part of a new U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid mechanism, which both governments argue is designed to prevent humanitarian supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas. Yet, no public evidence has been presented to support claims of systematic diversion, and the United Nations firmly denies such occurrences.
Major U.N. agencies and aid organizations have refused to cooperate with the system, citing humanitarian concerns and alleging it violates neutrality by compelling civilians to relocate to Israeli-managed aid sites, further displacing Gaza’s already devastated population.
Due to Israeli-imposed restrictions and widespread looting, aid deliveries across Gaza remain perilously difficult, sparking urgent warnings from global relief experts about the imminent risk of famine for the territory’s roughly two million residents.
Ongoing War and Escalating Human Cost
The humanitarian disaster unfolds as Israel’s military campaign continues in the wake of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, assault that left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Of those kidnapped, 58 remain in captivity, with only a third believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has now killed over 54,000 people in Gaza mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The massive military operation has flattened entire neighborhoods, displaced nearly 90% of the population, and left residents almost entirely reliant on international assistance.
Adding to the tension, a separate source alleges that Hamas has seized humanitarian aid supplies and redirected them, while publicly blaming Israel for aid shortages a claim that, if confirmed, would further complicate the already polarizing narrative surrounding the conflict.
As global appeals for a ceasefire grow louder, Sunday’s tragic incident underscores the volatile and deadly nature of the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza, where food lines are now as dangerous as frontlines.
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