Timeline: How Gaza aid attack which killed 31 people happened
Health officials in Gaza say at least three more Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded near an aid distribution point operated by a US-backed group.
At least 31 people were reportedly killed on Sunday as they tried to get food near the same site in Rafah.
Survivors told the Medecins Sans Frontieres aid agency that they were shot from all sides by drones, helicopters, boats, tanks and Israeli soldiers.
Israel's military denied firing at people gathering to collect aid.
Producers: Zahra Warsame and Yousef Hammash
Editor: Sophie Larkin
Graphics: Sam Wapples
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The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump-backed Gaza aid sites close after 'mass casualty' shootings
The new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied anyone was injured - let alone killed - at the aid sites since they started operations on May 26. But shooting deaths and injuries have mounted among masses of Palestinians walking to the foundation's distribution points. Israel's forces "carried out warning fire" around a third of a mile from the Rafah distribution site on June 3, IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said, "targeting a few individuals who were approaching in a way that posed a security threat." But the number of deaths and injuries exceeded "a few." Hospital workers described two shootings near a distribution site in Rafah, in southern Gaza, as "mass casualty" events. On June 1, medics received 179 wounded people, of whom 21 were dead on arrival, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which operates the field hospital. Another influx of 184 wounded arrived at the Red Cross field hospital June 3, the ICRC said in a statement; 19 were declared dead on arrival, and eight more died of their wounds not long afterwards. "Again, all responsive patients said they were trying to reach an assistance distribution site," the ICRC said. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced heavy criticism from established aid organizations, who alleged its closeness with Israel and militarized aid model would put civilians in harms way. With large groups of Palestinians passing by armed Israeli soldiers to collect food, "every day, they're running the risk of a mass shooting," Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International, told USA TODAY. USA TODAY was not able to independently verify the number of people killed and wounded - or who fired the shots. A Gaza Humanitarian Foundation spokesperson confirmed operations were paused on June 4, adding the group was in discussions with the Israeli Defense Forces about how it could "enhance its security measures beyond the immediate perimeter" of the sites. While Israel blamed Hamas for the gunshot deaths and injuries, the foundation asked the IDF to "enhance" training for soldiers and "introduce measures that guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near IDF military perimeters," according to a statement. In an email a day earlier, the foundation said that although "aid distribution was conducted safely and without incident," the IDF was investigating whether civilians were injured at "an area well beyond" its operating area. "We recognize the difficult nature of the situation and advise all civilians to remain in the safe corridor when traveling to our distribution sites," the group said. Konyndyk said the foundation's operating model made mass shootings a "very predictable risk." It "forces huge crowds of desperately hungry people to pass through IDF security perimeters in order to get to the aid distribution sites," he said. A solution to Gaza's food crisis? Israel completely shut down all aid entering Gaza for nearly three months beginning in early March, accusing Hamas of stealing the supplies. As the international community warned of imminent mass starvation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation appeared on the scene. The group touted its distribution sites, with high fences and armed guards, as a way to prevent theft while getting food to Palestinians. Israel has also long accused the United Nations, which previously distributed most of Gaza's aid, of anti-Israel bias. But distrust of the new group bloomed among aid workers over its ties to Israel. The foundation has also been criticized for opening just four sites throughout the 2 million-person enclave, forcing Palestinians to walk long distances to receive aid. Israel said militants had opened fire on civilians trying to collect aid on June 1, blaming Hamas for "spreading rumors" and "fake news" that its soldiers were behind the gunfire. Hamas is "trying bluntly, violently to stop the people of Gaza from reaching those distribution centers," Defrin said in a video statement. The U.S. has stood behind its ally. "It is Hamas that continues to terrorize and intimidate those who seek food aid," U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in a June 2 statement. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the shootings merited an independent investigation. "It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," he said in a June 2 statement. More: Chaos and criticism for Trump-backed Gaza aid plan as 47 are injured Israel dropped its aid blockade in mid-May. Humanitarian organizations say only a trickle of aid has reached its population, which is on the brink of famine. Israel has accused Hamas of looting aid - a charge refuted by the World Food Program and other aid organizations, which say starving people have raided recently arriving trucks and warehouses amid the mass food shortage. Israel launched its siege of Gaza after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed 1,200 Israelis. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
Doctor says sleeping with a fan on can cause 'hidden stresses' on our bodies
Summer is here and for many people across the Northern Hemisphere it's getting too hot to sleep comfortably at night. So a lot of us may be turning to fans to keep us cool. However, one doctor has said sleeping with a fan on could be causing 'hidden stress' on our bodies (Picture: Getty) US-based medic Dr Naheed Ali, who also has a PhD as an health expert, told LadBible: 'The fan cools the skin by speeding up evaporation, and that steady airflow can leave the nasal passages and throat uncomfortably dry by morning. A dry airway produces thicker mucus, which can trap allergens and irritants close to sensitive tissue. Over time, this may trigger coughing, a scratchy voice, or clogged sinuses that linger through the day' (Picture: Getty) He added that the airflow from the fan could stir up dust from bedding and flooring, and these particles of lint, dander and pollen could reach deeper into your airway as you sleep. People who also have asthma or mild allergies may find themselves with extra chest tightness or sneezing after having the fan on (Picture: Getty) But it's not only your sinuses that could be affected. Dr Ali explains that your muscles exposed to cool air for seven or eight hours can cause a drop in temperature in your tissues, which can lead to stiff neck and aching shoulders upon waking. This symptom will persist until a warm shower or gentle stretching restores the normal blood flow (Picture: Getty) Houses across the UK are not adapted to function well in the heat, so what can you do when it gets too hot? Dr Ali suggested that if running a fan is the only solution for sleeping comfortably then you should try having it on a timer. He recommends to set the timer to last the first sleep cycle which is 90 minutes, so that it switches off after you fall asleep (Picture: Getty) He suggests that you should direct the airflow toward the opposite wall instead of it being aimed straight towards the bed. You should also have a glass of water beside the bed in case your mouth goes dry. He said: 'Replacing bedroom filters and washing sheets weekly will reduce airborne dust. These small adjustments let the fan cool the room without increasing discomfort in the airways or joints during the full night' (Picture: Getty) Those at the Sleep Foundation have suggested some other ways to keep cool at night which include: • Using cool bedding and pyjamas• Using a cooling mattress and bedding• Showering before bed• Cool down the bedroom during the day• Turn on air conditioning (Picture: Getty) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
Let them take the ferry - Reader says Schengen Agreement would stop the boats
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. The papers continue to report almost daily stories about the high numbers of Channel boat crossings. It beggars belief that armed French police just watch as migrants board craft. What is the point of them being armed if they are no deterrent? Perhaps they just have pistols and need machine guns to ward off the traffickers who may also be armed?! But we are paying them millions to prevent the boats leaving. I strongly believe we should be in the Schengen Agreement – part of borderless Europe – and then these dangerous journeys would stop as people would be able to get here on ferries and trains. And perhaps these people desperate to come to this country would find that the grass isn't greener over the other side of the Channel and return to continental Europe to find a country where the standard of living is higher. In that way, they wouldn't have to spend thousands of euros and then feel that they are stuck here. Of course, Border Forces would have to do more of the checking of restaurants, car washes, nail bars and other workplaces that they already visit to check they aren't hiring illegal workers. But all these massive sums spent on fruitlessly trying to stop many of the boats could be diverted, increasing the Border Forces operations in the UK. Penny Munden, Croydon The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported on Tuesday this week that the Noura Al-Kaabi Kidney Dialysis Center in the north of Gaza is now 'a pile of rubble'. This after it was apparently destroyed by the Israeli military. Dr Ghebreyesus added that 'the destruction of this health facility directly endangers the lives of patients with kidney failure'. Assuming there was no military threat from the building, is there any reason why this destruction should be described as anything other than racist violence by the Israeli government? Kevin, Watford To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Are there any depths to which the Israeli government can sink in its genocide of the Palestinians for some people to stop saying, 'It's all the fault of Hamas'? I doubt it. Mick, West Midlands My dad was a doctor in the 1940s. He would have morning surgery with no appointments, then go out on his rounds to see patients at their home. He came back for lunch, then it was out again in the afternoon to see patients, back for tea, then evening surgery. After that, he would be on call at night and many a time had to visit for emergencies. Somehow, I don't think doctors today would work that hard. S Rushworth, Southport Richard Row (MetroTalk, Wed) defends Elon Musk's work slashing US government spending as drastic but necessary. What efficiencies did he make exactly? And he's left things in a 'better' position? For whom? All he did was take money from some of the poorest people. It was completely unnecessary. Agatha, Surrey MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables MORE: Next launches limited edition Spoil Him Grooming Box worth £88 ahead of Father's Day MORE: Boy, 14, 'hacked to death in an instant by man with Samurai sword' on way to school
