Palestinians say at least 4 killed by Israeli fire near aid site. Israel says it fired warning shots
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials and witnesses say at least four people were killed and others were wounded by Israeli fire around a kilometer (half-mile) from an aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip run by an Israeli and U.S.-backed group. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces.
The bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis, which confirmed the toll. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli forces had fired on them at a roundabout in the nearby city of Rafah as they went to get food from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people it said were suspects who had advanced toward 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.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The GHF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Deadly shootings near new aid hubs
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 occurred at around 6 a.m., when they were told the site would open. Many had headed toward 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 toward 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 that he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital.
'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.'
Risk of famine
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 coordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Israel and the United States accuse the militant Hamas group of stealing aid, while the U.N. denies there is any systematic diversion. The U.N. says the new system is unable to meet mounting needs and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon by determining who can receive it and forcing people to relocate to where the aid sites are positioned.
The U.N. system has meanwhile 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, which Israeli officials have said will continue until all the 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 massive attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinians militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 people hostage. They are still holding 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 over the course of the war.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It has said 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 territory's roughly 2 million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all of Gaza's food production capabilities have been destroyed.
___
Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
___
Follow AP's war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Study reveals how many days each month average person is tired, has headache or sore tummy
A new study has revealed that only 28% of Americans feel completely healthy, with the remaining 72% living in chronic discomfort. Photo by iStock / GETTY IMAGES Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Tired, or dealing with a headache or a sore tummy? Or maybe all of this at once? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Join the party. We're all feeling these things, many of us perhaps more than we care to admit. But have you ever wondered how you stack up in this regard compared to the next person? A new survey has those answers. The survey, conducted by Talker Research for Doctor's Best , has revealed that only 28% of Americans feel completely healthy, with the remaining 72% living in chronic discomfort. Grim, we know. Respondents said they feel tired 12.9 days, experience mood changes 10.1 days, suffer from tummy issues 9.8 days and deal with headaches 7.5 days per month, the New York Post reported. The study also found that the average American only feels truly healthy for 19 days out of the month, meaning nearly two weeks are spent dealing with fatigue, headaches or digestive issues. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. About 65% of Americans said their health issues make it more difficult to function optimally at their job, while 40% report they make it harder to exercise, potentially creating a negative cycle of well-being. Another 15% said these issues steal their ability to enjoy quality time with family while 32% of men said they've had trouble performing sexually as a result. Gut issues appear to have the most significant impact on the personal lives of Americans. One in three Americans regularly deal with stomach problems, with almost half (48%) confessed these tummy troubles make them more reluctant to have sex. Read More 'When your gut is unbalanced, everything else begins to suffer: work, sleep, intimacy and even the simple joy of being with family,' Katie Lucas, CMO of Doctor's Best , said in a news release. 'We often try to convince ourselves that health is a private issue, but the statistics show otherwise. When we don't feel well, it affects every aspect of our lives. Healing the gut isn't just about improving digestion; it's about reclaiming the parts of life we're gradually losing.' Gen Z is the generation most likely to suffer from upset stomach, the study said. Sports Canada Sunshine Girls Columnists Sunshine Girls
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
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 kilometre from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in nearby Rafah. Story continues below advertisement 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. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 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.' Story continues below advertisement 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.' 2:24 Palestinians hold Eid al-Adha prayers at graveyards, ruins of mosques 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 two-million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all food production capabilities have been destroyed. Story continues below advertisement The new aid hubs 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. 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. Story continues below advertisement 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 per cent of its population. 1:28 Israel retrieves body of Thai hostage as 95 people reported killed in Gaza –with files from The Associated Press' Melanie Lidman
Toronto Star
4 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Palestinians say Israeli fire kills 5 near aid sites. Israel says it fired warning shots
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — 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.
