At least 50 Gazans killed in worst attack of aid crisis
At least 50 Gazans who were trying to get aid have died in the latest mass killing, according to officials in the Strip.
Gaza's civil defence agency, which comes under the governance structure controlled by Hamas, said Israeli tanks and drones fired at civilians who had gathered to receive flour at a charity aid centre on Tuesday morning.
The World Health Organisation said it had received reports of a mass-casualty event. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said details of the incident were 'under review'.
If confirmed, the killing would amount to the worst incident in terms of deaths related to the collection of humanitarian aid since a new system was implemented.
It follows weeks of controversy about the danger to civilians collecting aid under the new framework, with multiple allegations of mass shootings near aid distribution centres run by a US contractor.
However, Tuesday's incident, which took place near the Al-Tahlia roundabout in the city of Khan Younis, is not reported to involve the Gaza Health Foundation (GHF).
Gaza's health ministry, which also comes under the control of Hamas, said 51 dead and more than 200 injured had arrived at the Masser Medical Complex. Twenty of the injured were in a critical condition.
Videos on social media purported to show numerous cars racing into the hospital compound with casualties inside.
There were also as yet unverified pictures of bloodied individuals, including children, being treated on the hospital floor.
Parts of the Gazan population – approximately half a million – are on the brink of starvation, according to NGOs. It follows an Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid from the beginning of March to late May.
Under the new system, aid is available at a small number of specially created sites run by GHF, as well as via some aid lorries allowed into Gaza.
However, the model of community distribution has been shattered because of the mass displacement of population caused by the expanded campaign against Hamas.
Gaza has hardly been in the headlines since Israel began its campaign against Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure on Thursday night, and Iran began firing ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in response.
An IDF spokesman said: 'Earlier today [Tuesday], a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area.
'The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach. The details of the incident are under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.'
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Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
At least 50 Gazans killed in worst attack of aid crisis
At least 50 Gazans who were trying to get aid have died in the latest mass killing, according to officials in the Strip. Gaza's civil defence agency, which comes under the governance structure controlled by Hamas, said Israeli tanks and drones fired at civilians who had gathered to receive flour at a charity aid centre on Tuesday morning. The World Health Organisation said it had received reports of a mass-casualty event. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said details of the incident were 'under review'. If confirmed, the killing would amount to the worst incident in terms of deaths related to the collection of humanitarian aid since a new system was implemented. It follows weeks of controversy about the danger to civilians collecting aid under the new framework, with multiple allegations of mass shootings near aid distribution centres run by a US contractor. However, Tuesday's incident, which took place near the Al-Tahlia roundabout in the city of Khan Younis, is not reported to involve the Gaza Health Foundation (GHF). Gaza's health ministry, which also comes under the control of Hamas, said 51 dead and more than 200 injured had arrived at the Masser Medical Complex. Twenty of the injured were in a critical condition. Videos on social media purported to show numerous cars racing into the hospital compound with casualties inside. There were also as yet unverified pictures of bloodied individuals, including children, being treated on the hospital floor. Parts of the Gazan population – approximately half a million – are on the brink of starvation, according to NGOs. It follows an Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid from the beginning of March to late May. Under the new system, aid is available at a small number of specially created sites run by GHF, as well as via some aid lorries allowed into Gaza. However, the model of community distribution has been shattered because of the mass displacement of population caused by the expanded campaign against Hamas. Gaza has hardly been in the headlines since Israel began its campaign against Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure on Thursday night, and Iran began firing ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in response. An IDF spokesman said: 'Earlier today [Tuesday], a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area. 'The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach. The details of the incident are under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.'
NBC News
6 hours ago
- NBC News
Israeli forces kill dozens of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza, health officials say
While the Israeli military designates specific routes during certain hours to access the sites, much of the area surrounding the facilities is considered a combat zone outside of those times. And while GHF has warned Palestinians to avoid trying to access the sites outside of operating hours, many across the enclave feel they have no choice but to walk for hours overnight and into the morning to reach distribution areas early enough to secure a portion of the limited aid available. Many still come away hungry after failing to reach the sites early enough. After ending the blockade, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that only "basic aid" would be allowed into Gaza. He did not elaborate. Humanitarian groups have warned that in a population of around 2.1 million, the aid distributed so far is a drop in the ocean of what is needed. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have condemned the new distribution program, saying it has put Palestinian lives at risk while also undermining a long-standing aid framework in the enclave. Before the war began, around 500 trucks carrying aid and goods were entering the enclave daily, according to the British Red Cross and other humanitarian groups. Since then, the flow of aid has been inconsistent, grinding to a halt under Israel's blockade. Israel launched its offensive after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict. Since then, more than 55,000 people, including thousands of children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the local Health Ministry, with much of the enclave destroyed.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Israeli forces kill 51 Palestinians waiting for flour at Gaza aid site, witnesses and rescuers say
Israeli forces have killed more than 51 Palestinians and wounded many more after opening fire near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, witnesses and rescuers Hamas-run civil defence agency said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the aid site in Khan Younis. More than 200 people were reportedly injured. The Israeli military has told the BBC it is looking into the is the latest, and potentially the deadliest, of the almost daily shootings that have been taking place recently near aid distribution sites in Gaza. Witnesses say that Israeli forces opened fire and shelled an area near a junction to the east of Khan Younis, where thousands of Palestinians had been gathering in the hope of getting flour from a World Food Programme (WFP) site, which also includes a community kitchen nearby.A local journalist and eyewitnesses said Israeli drones fired two missiles, followed shortly after by a shell from an Israeli tank positioned between 400 and 500m away from the crowd. The explosions caused many crowd had assembled near a key road leading to the town of Bani Suheila, an area that has seen weeks of ongoing Israeli military Hospital, the main functioning medical facility in the area, has been overwhelmed by the number of casualties. It is so overcrowded that the many wounded are lying on the floor as medical staff treat their injuries. In a statement the IDF said "a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area."It said it was "aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach" and the incident was under Monday, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Israel was weaponising food and called for an investigation into the shootings near aid the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, he said: "Israel's means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza."
