Health officials and witnesses in Gaza have reported that Israeli forces shot at individuals heading towards a humanitarian aid distribution site, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people on Tuesday. This incident marks the third such occurrence in as many days. The Israeli military stated that it fired near suspected individuals who strayed from the designated safe route and ignored warning shots.
These shootings have increased following the establishment of aid distribution points in areas controlled by Israeli military, a move supported by an Israeli-US founded organisation aimed at bypassing Hamas. However, the United Nations has denounced this system, asserting it fails to adequately address the severe hunger crisis in Gaza and allows for aid to be weaponised by the Israeli authorities.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army confirmed it was investigating the reports of civilian casualties. They previously mentioned firing warning shots at suspects over the weekend, during which 34 fatalities occurred. The military has consistently denied firing on civilians or obstructing their access to aid sites.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation insists that its distribution locations have seen no violence. However, they acknowledged that an investigation was ongoing concerning whether civilians had moved outside the designated safe corridor into a closed military zone during Tuesday’s incident.
The shootings occurred close to a roundup area in Rafah, situated within an Israeli military zone, limiting access to journalists without prior military approval. The head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records has reported 27 fatalities stemming from the shooting, including women and children, with many of the wounded suffering gunshot injuries.
Reports from witnesses describe chaotic scenes, with allegations of indiscriminate gunfire from Israeli forces. Many individuals attempting to reach the aid hub returned empty-handed, citing the lack of humanitarian supplies and conflicting accounts regarding ongoing violence.
The situation is compounded by news that three Israeli soldiers were killed in northern Gaza during what is believed to be the most significant attack on their forces since the cessation of a ceasefire in March. Israeli military sources indicated that the soldiers died during combat operations, with media reports suggesting an explosion in the Jabaliya area.
Since the end of the ceasefire in March, Israeli strikes have reportedly resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. In a previous deadly attack on October 7, Hamas militants killed around 1,200 individuals and took over 250 hostages, igniting the current conflict. As of now, the ongoing military campaign has claimed over 54,000 Palestinian lives, predominantly women and children, although the precise numbers of civilians versus combatants remain unconfirmed. Israel claims to have killed approximately 20,000 militants but has not substantiated this figure with evidence. Further, Israeli soldiers’ casualties since the outbreak of conflict stand at around 860.