More than 330 Palestinians killed by Israel since start of lethal US-backed aid scheme

Middle East Eye

7 hours ago

Israeli attacks on Palestinians seeking aid in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 338 civilians, according to Palestinian health officials.
In the most recent series of assaults on civilians at aid delivery points, at least 20 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 left wounded around dawn on Monday.
The besieged enclave's population is grappling with starvation, as a result of an Israeli blockade on essential food and water supplies entering the territory.
Israel and its allies in Washington have only allowed the controversial US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute essential supplies to Palestinians.
However, massacres of those seeking aid by Israeli soldiers and GHF-aligned mercenaries have been a daily occurrence.
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The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 50 people were left in critical condition in Monday's mass killing, which happened as Israeli troops opened fire directly on Palestinians gathered at US-Israeli distribution points.
"We call on all concerned parties to work to find alternative mechanisms for distributing aid without causing the death of hungry people or causing serious injuries in such large numbers," the ministry said in a press release.
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In addition to the dead, at least 2,831 people have been wounded and nine missing individuals at aid distribution points.
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), criticised the new aid delivery structure established in a joint collaboration between the US and Israel, describing it as a "lethal distribution system".
The killings form a new mode of atrocity in Gaza with deaths also occuring as a result of Israeli bombardment and shooting.
According to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, at least 43 people were killed by the Israeli military on Monday morning.
The total death toll from Israel's war on Gaza now stands at 55,432 people and 128,923 injuries.
'Civilians suffer most'
In late May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan to allow limited aid into Gaza and turn over distribution efforts to the US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
With Gaza experiencing a deepening humanitarian crisis as a result of Israel's months-long siege and continued bombardment, the Israel-US aid initiative has only exacerbated the suffering in the enclave.
"Tragedies go on unabated while attention shifts elsewhere," Lazzarini said in a statement.
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"Restrictions on bringing in aid from the UN including Unrwa continue despite an abundance of assistance ready to be moved into Gaza," he explained, adding that severe shortages of fuel are crippling delivery of critical services.
"Killings and wars will breed more wars and bloodshed. Civilians will always suffer first and suffer most. Political will, leadership and courage are overdue and needed more than ever.
"It's time for long lasting peace in Gaza and across the region."
As Gaza endures heavy bombardment, a renewed communication blackout has hampered emergency services and medical assistance throughout the blockaded enclave.
On Thursday, all internet and landline telecommunications services were completely cut off when Israel launched a direct attack on the last remaining main fibre optic route connecting Gaza.
In a statement, the Government Media Office described the action as "a crime aimed at obscuring the truth and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe".
"The widespread and recurring interruption of communications and the internet cannot be considered a technical or accidental failure.
"Rather, it is a deliberate and premeditated crime aimed at isolating the Gaza Strip from the outside world, obscuring the truth, and depriving citizens of the most basic necessities of life, safety, communication and assistance."
The blockaded enclave's southern and central governorate were affected by the destruction, joining Gaza City and the northen region, which have been disconnected since the beginning of the week.
Following a partial return to telecommunication and internet services over the weekend, renewed disruptions - caused by resumed Israeli military action - were reported on Monday across central and south Gaza.