The Israeli military has denied allegations that soldiers were ordered to fire at unarmed Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
This denial comes after a report by Haaretz newspaper alleged that Israeli soldiers were instructed to shoot at crowds of Palestinians approaching aid sites, even when there was no immediate threat.
According to Haaretz, one soldier described the approach routes to aid sites as a “killing field” where Israeli forces open fire without an immediate threat.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strongly rejected the accusation, stating, “The IDF did not instruct the forces to deliberately shoot at civilians, including those approaching the distribution centers.” The IDF emphasized that its directives prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz also rejected the report, calling it “vicious lies designed to discredit the IDF – the most moral army in the world.”
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed approaching aid sites or trucks carrying aid since May 27, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Palestinians have faced gunfire on a near-daily basis while approaching these sites, health officials and emergency responders said.
In response to these incidents, the IDF has acknowledged firing “warning shots” at Palestinians approaching military positions near aid distribution sites and claimed to be examining reports of casualties.
The Military Advocate General has instructed the IDF General Staff’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism to investigate suspected war crimes near aid sites. The IDF stated, “Any allegation of a deviation from the law or IDF directives will be thoroughly examined, and further action will be taken as necessary.”
The Gaza aid sites where deaths have occurred are run by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). GHF hands out pre-packaged food boxes at several locations in southern and central Gaza.
However, the organization’s distribution has been chaotic, with crowds of desperate Palestinians rushing to the sites. The UN and major aid organizations have refused to cooperate with GHF, citing concerns that it caters to Israeli military objectives.
GHF has acknowledged some violence outside its aid sites but described food distribution operations as proceeding without incident. In response to the Haaretz report, GHF said it was “not aware” of the specific incidents described but called for Israel to investigate and transparently publish the results.
The US State Department has awarded $30 million to GHF, indicating continued US support. GHF claims to have distributed 46 million meals in four weeks of operations. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups say most UN-distributed food aid reaches civilians, contradicting Israeli and US accusations that Hamas loots UN aid.