At least 13 Palestinians have been killed and over 150 injured after Israeli troops and American security contractors opened fire on crowds waiting for food near two aid distribution sites in Gaza.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with Gaza’s Government Media Office branding the distribution sites as “human slaughterhouses” and accusing Israeli forces of luring desperate civilians to their deaths. “These are war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the statement said, urging an independent international probe and an immediate suspension of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s (GHF) delivery model.
The GHF, a US-led initiative backed by Israel, has faced growing criticism for violating basic humanitarian standards and bypassing experienced aid organisations. UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, called the GHF operation “humanitarian camouflage” and “an essential tactic of this genocide.”
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with hundreds of Palestinians gathered near the aid point in Rafah, desperate to get food before the site became overwhelmed. “After about an hour and a half, hundreds moved toward the site, and the army opened fire,” said witness Abdallah Nour al-Din.
Survivors insisted the shooting took place after sunrise, contradicting the Israeli military’s claim that the area had been designated an “active combat zone” at night. “This is a trap for us, not aid,” said Adham Dahman, speaking to the Associated Press from Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza with a bloodied bandage on his chin. The incident has further strained the already overwhelmed healthcare system in Gaza, with hospitals reporting a surge in casualties and warning of impending collapse.
The director of al-Shifa Hospital warned that the lives of 300 kidney failure patients hang in the balance, saying, “We are facing a real disaster in the hospital if electricity is not provided.” The violence comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that the total death toll from Israel’s ongoing war has reached 54,880, with more than 126,000 injured since October 7, 2023.