Five Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near aid hub
Palestinian witnesses said they were fired at by an Israeli tank. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces early on Sunday.
Four bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses there said Israeli forces had fired on them at about 6am at a roundabout half-a-mile from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the nearby city of Rafah.
READ MORE: LIVE: Latest updates as Freedom Flotilla nears Gaza
The Israeli military claimed it fired warning shots at people it said were suspects who had advanced towards its forces and ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting occurred in an area in southern Gaza that is considered an active combat zone at night.
Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a 42-year-old man and 29 people who were injured near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. The military said it fired warning shots in the area at around 6.40am but did not see any casualties.
A GHF spokesperson claimed there had been no violence in or around its distribution sites, all of which delivered aid on Sunday. The centres were closed temporarily last week while the GHF discussed safety measures with the Israeli military.
The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food.
Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials.
Israel's military said it fired warning shots or, in some instances, near individuals approaching its forces.
Witnesses said Sunday's shooting occurred at around 6am, when they were told the site would open. Many had headed towards it early to try and get desperately needed food before the crowds.
Adham Dahman, 30, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank had fired at them. 'We didn't know how to escape,' he said. 'This is trap for us, not aid.'
READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe
Zahed Ben Hassan, another witness, said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital.
'They said it was a safe area from 6am until 6pm,' he said. 'So why did they start shooting at us? There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.'
The hubs are set up inside Israeli military zones – where independent media have no access – and are run by GHF, a new group backed by both Israel and the US.
Israel wants it to replace a system co-ordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups, which have strongly condemned the GHF's plans.
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Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Five killed by Israeli fire near aid points, Palestinians say
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces early on Sunday. Four bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses there said Israeli forces had fired on them at about 6am at a roundabout half-a-mile from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the nearby city of Rafah. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people it said were suspects who had advanced towards its forces and ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting occurred in an area in southern Gaza that is considered an active combat zone at night. Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a 42-year-old man and 29 people who were injured near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. The military said it fired warning shots in the area at around 6.40am but did not see any casualties. A GHF spokesperson said there was no violence in or around its distribution sites, all three of which delivered aid on Sunday. The group had closed them temporarily last week to discuss safety measures with the Israeli military and has warned people to stay on designated access routes. The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. Israel's military has said it fired warning shots or, in some instances, near individuals approaching its forces. Witnesses said Sunday's shooting in southern Gaza occurred at around 6am, when they were told the site would open. Many had headed towards it early to try and get desperately needed food before the crowds. Adham Dahman, 30, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank had fired at them. 'We didn't know how to escape,' he said. 'This is trap for us, not aid.' Zahed Ben Hassan, another witness, said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital. 'They said it was a safe area from 6am until 6pm,' he said. 'So why did they start shooting at us? There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.' The hubs are set up inside Israeli military zones – where independent media have no access – and are run by GHF, a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants it to replace a system co-ordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Palestinians say Israeli fire kills 5 near aid sites. Israel says it fired warning shots
Israeli fire killed at least five people and wounded others as they headed toward two aid distribution points in Gaza run by an Israeli and U.S.-backed group, Palestinian health officials and witnesses said Sunday. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces. The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of Palestinians — desperate after 20 months of war — are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. In all, at least 108 bodies were brought to hospitals in Gaza over the past 48 hours, the territory's Health Ministry said. Israel's military said it struck dozens of militant targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Four of the latest bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli forces fired on them at a roundabout around a kilometer (half-mile) from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in nearby Rafah. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at 'suspects' who had advanced toward its forces and ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting occurred in an area that is considered an active combat zone at night. Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a 42-year-old man and 29 people who were wounded near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. The military said it fired warning shots in the area at around 6:40 a.m. but did not see any casualties. A GHF official said there was no violence in or around its distribution sites, all three of which delivered aid on Sunday. The group closed them temporarily last week to discuss safety measures with Israel's military and has warned people to stay on designated access routes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The new aid hubs are set up inside Israeli military zones where independent media have no access. Witnesses fear for their safety Witnesses said the shooting in southern Gaza occurred at around 6 a.m., when they were told the site would open. Many headed toward it early, seeking desperately needed food before the crowds arrived. Adham Dahman, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank fired toward them. 'We didn't know how to escape," he said. "This is trap for us, not aid.' Zahed Ben Hassan said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said he and others pulled the body from the scene. 'They said it was a safe area from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. ... So why did they start shooting at us?' he said. 'There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.' The military announced on Friday that the sites would be open during those hours, and that the area would be a closed military zone the rest of the time. Children cried over their father's body at the hospital. 'I can't see you like this, Dad!' one girl said. Aid distributed inside Israeli military zones Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all food production capabilities have been destroyed. The new aid hubs are run by GHF, a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants it to replace a system coordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups. Israel and the United States accuse the Hamas militant group of stealing aid. The U.N. denies there is systematic diversion. The U.N. says the new system is unable to meet mounting needs, allows Israel to use aid as a weapon by determining who can receive it and forces people to relocate to where aid sites are positioned. The U.N. system has struggled to deliver aid, even after Israel eased its complete blockade of Gaza last month. U.N. officials say their efforts are hindered by Israeli military restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting. Experts warned earlier this year that Gaza was at critical risk of famine if Israel did not lift its blockade and halt its military campaign. Both were renewed in March. Israeli officials have said the offensive will continue until all hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Talks mediated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been deadlocked for months. Hamas started the war with its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostage. They still hold 55 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel has recovered dozens of bodies, including three in recent days, and rescued eight living hostages during the war. Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but does not say how many civilians or combatants were killed. Israel says it has killed over 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population. ___ ___
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Five Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near aid hub
Palestinian witnesses said they were fired at by an Israeli tank. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces early on Sunday. Four bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses there said Israeli forces had fired on them at about 6am at a roundabout half-a-mile from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the nearby city of Rafah. READ MORE: LIVE: Latest updates as Freedom Flotilla nears Gaza The Israeli military claimed it fired warning shots at people it said were suspects who had advanced towards its forces and ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting occurred in an area in southern Gaza that is considered an active combat zone at night. Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a 42-year-old man and 29 people who were injured near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. The military said it fired warning shots in the area at around 6.40am but did not see any casualties. A GHF spokesperson claimed there had been no violence in or around its distribution sites, all of which delivered aid on Sunday. The centres were closed temporarily last week while the GHF discussed safety measures with the Israeli military. The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. Israel's military said it fired warning shots or, in some instances, near individuals approaching its forces. Witnesses said Sunday's shooting occurred at around 6am, when they were told the site would open. Many had headed towards it early to try and get desperately needed food before the crowds. Adham Dahman, 30, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank had fired at them. 'We didn't know how to escape,' he said. 'This is trap for us, not aid.' READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe Zahed Ben Hassan, another witness, said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital. 'They said it was a safe area from 6am until 6pm,' he said. 'So why did they start shooting at us? There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.' The hubs are set up inside Israeli military zones – where independent media have no access – and are run by GHF, a new group backed by both Israel and the US. Israel wants it to replace a system co-ordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups, which have strongly condemned the GHF's plans.
