Israeli forces in Gaza kill 27 Palestinians seeking aid, health officials say

June 3, 2025
2,712 Views

More than two dozen people were killed early Tuesday by Israeli fire as they tried to reach aid in Gaza, local health officials said, following the latest in a string of incidents surrounding a controversial new aid distribution system in the enclave.

The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said Tuesday morning that at least 27 people were killed, with dozens injured, as they waited for aid at a designated site in the area of what is known as the “Al-Alam” roundabout in the southern city of Rafah.

The Israeli military said its troops had fired what it described as “warning fire” at a number of people about half a kilometer, or 0.3 miles, away from an aid distribution site — and that it was aware of reports of casualties and was looking into the matter.

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT
Palestinians at the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza mourn relatives killed Tuesday near a U.S.-backed aid center in Rafah.AFP via Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces said troops had identified several people moving toward them “in such a way that posed a threat to them” and appearing to deviate from designated aid access routes, but did not expand on what threat those people posed.

“After the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,” it said.

The incident is the latest in a string of similar events in which health officials and humanitarian groups say Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid under a new distribution system that has been condemned by humanitarian groups that include aid-related bodies of the United Nations.

The Israeli military open fire on Palestinians who receive aid in Gaza
Wounded Palestinians are brought to the Nasser hospital after Tuesday’s incident.Doaa Albaz / Anadolu via Getty Images

It comes after Gaza health officials reported Monday that at least three people were killed and dozens injured when Israeli forces opened fire as people made their way toward a food distribution site, Reuters reported. The Israeli military said it was aware of reports of casualties and that the incident was being looked into, Reuters added.

That, in turn, came a day after more than 30 people were killed in a similar event Sunday, with hundreds also injured according to local health officials and aid workers. Witnesses described coming under fire while waiting for aid and attempting to reach a distribution site to NBC News’ crew on the ground.

The Israeli military vigorously denied those reports, as did the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — the U.S. and Israel-backed organization has been tasked with distributing aid in the enclave.

Following Sunday’s incident, an Israeli military official told NBC News that soldiers fired warning shots “toward several suspects” about a half-mile from an aid distribution center, but they maintained that there was no connection between this and what they described as “false claims” made against the military.

In a statement issued Monday, the GHF maintained “there were no injuries, fatalities or incidents” during their operations Sunday.

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-GAZA
Emergency services arrive Sunday to evacuate injured people after an Israeli drone reportedly opened fire on civilian gatherings near an aid distribution point in Gaza.Eyad Baba / AFP via Getty Images

“We have yet to see any concrete evidence that there was an attack at or near our facility yesterday and that evidence-based reporting should be at least the minimum requirement for news outlets,” GHF said.

In its statement on Tuesday’s incident, the IDF said it allowed GHF to operate independently in order to enable the distribution of aid to Palestinian residents in Gaza “and not to Hamas,” repeating a claim of Hamas diverting aid from civilians that Israeli officials have cited as being a key reason for introducing the new system — as well as for its 11-week aid blockade that it lifted last month.

Aid groups, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, have previously told NBC News that they have not seen instances of aid being diverted to Hamas during the war in Gaza.

Source link

You may be interested

Passenger describes moment SkyWest flight turned to avoid B-52 bomber: Like “a sharp turn on a roller coaster”
Top Stories
shares3,948 views
Top Stories
shares3,948 views

Passenger describes moment SkyWest flight turned to avoid B-52 bomber: Like “a sharp turn on a roller coaster”

new admin - Jul 22, 2025

A passenger who was aboard the SkyWest flight that turned to avoid a B-52 bomber on Friday said it felt like going…

Columbia University disciplines students who took part in campus protests
Business
shares2,776 views
Business
shares2,776 views

Columbia University disciplines students who took part in campus protests

new admin - Jul 22, 2025

[ad_1] Columbia University announced Tuesday that it had punished students for participating in two school protests, including one at the…

Lady Gaga Falls, Quickly Recovers While Greeting Fans During Show
Music
shares3,949 views
Music
shares3,949 views

Lady Gaga Falls, Quickly Recovers While Greeting Fans During Show

new admin - Jul 22, 2025

[ad_1] A little trip and fall won’t stop Lady Gaga from saying hello to her Little Monsters. During her third…