
Six dead after ‘Israeli forces and allies fired at crowd near Gaza aid site'
Palestinians say Israeli forces and allied local gunmen fired toward a crowd heading to an Israeli and US supported food distribution centre in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza's Health Ministry said six people were killed in the reported attack early on Monday.
Advertisement
The gunmen appeared to be allied with the Israeli military, operating in close proximity to troops and retreating into an Israeli military zone in the southern city of Rafah after the crowd hurled stones at them, witnesses said.
Israeli army vehicles transport a group of soldiers and journalists inside the southern Gaza Strip (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel recently acknowledged supporting local armed groups opposed to Hamas.
– The latest in a string of shootings
It was the latest in a number of shootings that have killed at least 127 people and wounded hundreds since the rollout of a new food distribution system, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Advertisement
Israel and the US say the new system is designed to circumvent Hamas, but it has been rejected by the UN and major aid groups.
Experts have meanwhile warned that Israel's blockade and its ongoing military campaign have put Gaza at risk of famine.
Palestinians say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired toward crowds heading to the food centres since they opened last month.
In previous instances, the Israeli military has said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces near the centres, which are in military zones off limits to independent media.
Advertisement
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the Israeli and US supported private contractor running the sites, says there has been no violence in or around the centres themselves.
But GHF repeatedly warns would-be food recipients that stepping off the road designated by the military for people to reach the centres represents 'a great danger'.
Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)
It paused delivery at its three distribution sites last week to hold discussions with the military about improving safety on the routes.
GHF closed the Rafah site on Monday due to the 'chaos of the crowds', according to a Facebook site associated with the group.
Advertisement
A GHF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– Shots fired from the 'dangerous zone'
Heba Joda, who was in the crowd Monday, said gunfire broke out at a roundabout where previous shootings have occurred, around a kilometre (half a mile) from the aid site.
She said the shots came from the 'dangerous zone' where Israeli troops and their allies are stationed.
She said she saw men from a local militia led by Yasser Abu Shabab trying to organise the crowds into lines on the road.
Advertisement
When people pushed forward, the gunmen opened fire. People then hurled stones at them, forcing them to withdraw toward the Israeli positions, she said.
The Abu Shabab group, which calls itself the Popular Forces, says it is guarding the surroundings of the GHF centres in southern Gaza.
Aid workers say it has a long history of looting UN aid trucks. GHF has said it does not work with the Abu Shabab group.
Hussein Shamimi, who was also in the crowd, said his 14-year-old cousin was among those killed.
'There was an ambush… the Israelis from one side and Abu Shabab from another,' he said.
Mohamed Kabaga, a Palestinian displaced from northern Gaza, said he saw masked men firing toward the crowds after trying to organise them.
'They fired at us directly,' he said while being treated at Nasser Hospital, in the nearby city of Khan Younis.
He had been shot in the neck, as were three other people seen by an Associated Press journalist at the hospital.
Mr Kabaga said he saw around 50 masked men with 4×4 vehicles in the area around the roundabout, close to Israeli military lines.
'We didn't receive anything,' he said. 'They shot us.'
Nasser Hospital said several men had been shot in the upper body, including some in the head.
Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department, said six people were killed and more than 99 wounded, some of them at another GHF centre in central Gaza.
– The 20-month war rages on
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.
They are still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,900 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead.
It does not say how many of those killed were civilians or combatants.
The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced some 90% of the population and left the territory almost completely reliant on international aid.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
Israel says it will continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that even then, Israel will maintain open-ended control over Gaza and facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its population to other countries, a plan rejected by most of the international community, including the Palestinians, who view it as a blueprint for their forcible expulsion.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Syria orders women to wear burkinis on public beaches
Women in Syria must wear burkinis or swimwear that covers their body at public beaches and swimming pools, its tourism ministry has declared. It is the first time Damascus' Islamist authorities have issued guidelines for women to observe conservative dress codes since Bashar al-Assad's autocratic regime was toppled in December, amid concerns the country's new rulers could implement a more religiously conservative agenda. The new restrictions were part of a wider decree that detailed public safety guidelines for beaches and swimming pools, such as not spending too long in the sun. Syrians should wear 'appropriate swimwear that respects public decency and the feelings of different segments of society', it said, which required 'more modest swimsuits'. The order specified that women should wear 'the burkini or swimming clothes that cover the body more'. Men are required to wear shirts under the guidance, which said that 'topless clothing is not permitted in public areas outside of swimming areas, hotel lobbies, and food service areas'. 'In public areas outside of beaches and pools, it is preferable to wear loose clothing, covering shoulders and knees, and avoid transparent or overly tight clothing,' it added. Although 'normal Western swimwear' is still permitted at private clubs and luxury hotels, it said the new rules should be followed 'with adherence to public morals and within the limits of public taste'. The ministry said 'lifeguards and beach supervisors' would monitor compliance to the guidelines. Repercussions for rule breakers are unclear. The crackdown reflects the influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the de-facto Islamist coalition, designated a terrorist organisation by the UN the US, EU and UK, who led the lighting offensive that ousted Assad's regime and are now running Syria. Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's new president, has been working to assure global leaders that he won't restrict women's rights in the new Syria. Sunni Islamist group HTS – which has its roots in al-Qaeda – claims it has a more nuanced approach to implementing Sharia law than other hardline regimes in the Middle East. For example, Iran's morality police have brutally cracked down on women and girls perceived as failing to comply with the mandatory hijab laws and regulations, using public flogging and beatings as punishment. But al-Sharaa is treading a fine line, with observers abroad keeping a keen eye on signs that Syria could implement stricter Islamic laws. In December, he provoked a social media furore when he requested that a young woman who approached him for a photo covered her hair before taking a picture. Syria is working to rebuild after it was ravaged by 14 years of civil war. Last month, US president Donald Trump promised to lift economic sanctions on Syria, representing a major US policy shift toward the country. 'I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,' said Mr Trump. 'It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off,' he added. 'Good luck Syria, show us something very special.'


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Greta 'mistreated and mocked' by dancing Israeli officials before deportation
French doctor Bapiste Andre was on 'freedom flotilla' with Greta Thunberg - he said the group were subject to 'mockery' when they were intercepted by Israeli officials An activist on the 'freedom flotilla' boat with Greta Thunberg has said the latter was mistreated by Israeli officials. There "were acts of mistreatment" according to Baptiste Andre, who spoke to French media after the group of 12 were brought to the port of Ashdod. Mr Andre, a doctor, said there were 'no acts of physical violence', but that they were subject to sleep deprivation and 'mockery' by Israeli officials. He said this was 'especially' focussed on Ms Thunberg. 'As soon as [ Thunberg ] fell asleep, the immigration services came to wake her up' he claimed, adding that music was turned loud and members of the immigration services 'danced in front of us'. Adding there was some difficulty for the detainees in gaining access to food, water and toilets, Andre said: 'It took three hours to get a piece of bread.' On X, the Israeli foreign ministry said: 'The passengers of the 'Selfie Yacht' arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority.' Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said Thunberg was party to ' Instagram activism'. Israeli officials have received criticism after calling the group anti-semitic amid their attempts to bring food to people in Gaza. The UN has warned Gaza's population is at risk of famine. Ms Thunberg was one of 12 passengers on the Madleen, a ship carrying aid to Gaza. Israeli naval forces seized the boat without incident early on Monday about 125 miles off of Gaza's coast, according to the coalition, which along with rights groups, said Israel's actions were a violation of international law. Israel rejects that charge because it says such ships intend to breach what it argues is a lawful naval blockade of Gaza. Speaking upon arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Thunberg called for the release of the other activists who were detained aboard the Freedom Flotilla. She described a 'quite chaotic and uncertain' situation during the detention. The activist added the conditions they faced 'are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now'. 'We were well aware of the risks of this mission,' Ms Thunberg added. 'The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid.' She said the activists would continue trying to get aid to Gaza.


Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
US to order evacuation of Iraqi embassy amid fears of Iran deal collapse
American embassies in the Middle East are preparing to send home non-essential staff and families owing to heightened risks in the region. According to a string of American and local security sources, the embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, is planning what officials called an 'ordered evacuation,' withdrawing non-essential staff. It was already operating at reduced staffing levels. But facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait are also to send home family members. The move is being considered as the prospect of the US signing a nuclear deal with Iran appears less and less likely. 'Trump committed to keeping Americans safe' Details emerged hours after Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran's minister of defence, said that Tehran would strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks failed, and tensions escalated with Washington. 'President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad,' a State Department official told The Telegraph. 'In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq.' Mr Trump said he was growing 'less confident' in the likelihood of signing a nuclear deal with the country. Speaking to the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast, Mr Trump said: 'I don't know. I did think so, and I'm getting more and more less confident about it,' when asked by the host if he thought Iran would agree to shut down its nuclear program. UK issues warning The UK maritime agency issued a warning earlier on Wednesday that increased tensions could trigger a military escalation with a knock-on effect on critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. Iraq, a rare regional partner of both the United States and its arch regional foe Iran, hosts 2,500 US troops and has Tehran-backed armed factions linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking US troops. Mr Trump has been under pressure from Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, to allow the country to strike Iran. So-far, Mr Trump has blocked strikes. He told reporters in the Oval Office last month: 'I told [Mr Netanyahu] this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution now. 'That could change at any moment.' The US president has also threatened to strike Iran if stalled talks over its nuclear programme failed. Iran's mission to the United Nations posted on social media that 'threats of overwhelming force won't change the facts'. 'Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability,' it said.