3 people reported killed and dozens wounded near aid site in Gaza, medics say, World News
CAIRO - Israeli fire killed at least three Palestinians and wounded dozens of others near an aid distribution site operated by the US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said on Monday (June 2).
The Israeli military said it was aware of reports of casualties and the incident was being thoroughly looked into.
It said in a statement that troops operating overnight in Rafah, which is under full Israeli military control, in the southern Gaza Strip, had fired warning shots "to prevent several suspects approaching them", adding the incident took place about 1km away from the aid distribution site.
The GHF, a private group sponsored by the United States and endorsed by Israel, said there had been no fatalities or injuries at its distribution site or the surrounding area.
Reuters could not independently verify what took place.
The reported incident was the latest in a series underscoring the volatile security situation that has complicated aid delivery to Gaza, following the easing last month of an almost three-month Israeli blockade.
On Sunday, Palestinian and international officials said at least 31 people were killed and dozens wounded near the same site, one of four operated by the GHF in Rafah.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was appalled by reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza on Sunday, and called for an independent investigation.
The Israeli military denied firing at people gathering to collect aid, and the GHF said Sunday's distribution was carried out without incident, describing reports of deaths as fabricated by Hamas.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said that in the past day its forces expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip, killed gunmen, and dismantled weapons storage facilities and military infrastructure above and under the ground.
Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said Israeli strikes across the enclave had killed 51 people and wounded 500 others in the past 24 hours. Local health authorities said at least 16 of those were killed at a house in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, earlier on Monday. Risk of famine
The GHF said Monday's deliveries raised the number of meals it has distributed since it began operations to nearly six million.
The United Nations has said most of Gaza's two million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid entering the strip.
The GHF launched its first distribution sites last week and said it would launch more.
Its aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the UN and humanitarian organisations, which say the GHF does not follow humanitarian principles.
The Palestinian NGOs Network urged a boycott of what it called the "US-Israeli aid mechanism" in protest over the killings on Sunday.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, relatives of Hussam Wafi, a 37-year-old father-of-six, who was killed near the aid site on Sunday, arrived to pay their last respects before burial. Wafi's brother Ali said the victims were driven by hunger.
"The US and Israel, what do they tell us? Go and get your food and water, and the aid. When the aid arrives, they hit us. Is this fair?" Wafi told Reuters.
"They were going peacefully, they were killed. They went to get food and water for their children, to get a can of hummus or fava beans, a box or whatever is available, and they got shot, they died," Wafi's neighbour, Abu Youssef, told Reuters. Ceasefire talks to resume
Israel and Hamas, meanwhile, traded blame for the faltering of a new Arab and US mediation bid to secure a temporary ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli jails.
On Monday, a Palestinian official close to the mediation effort said Hamas leaders were in constant contact with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo and Doha.
Israel says it accepts a temporary truce to release hostages, but that war can only end once Hamas is driven out of Gaza.
Israel began its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken as hostages into Gaza.
Israel's campaign has devastated much of Gaza, killing more than 54,000 Palestinians and destroying most buildings. Much of the population now lives in shelters in makeshift camps.
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US-backed Gaza aid group halts distribution, UN calls model 'recipe for disaster'
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US-backed Gaza aid group halts distribution, UN to vote on ceasefire demand, World News
CAIRO/JERUSALEM/UNITED NATIONS — The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) will not give out any aid on Wednesday (June 4) as it presses Israel to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites, a day after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed. The GHF said it has asked the Israeli military to "guide foot traffic in a way that minimises confusion or escalation risks" near military perimeters; develop clearer guidance for civilians; and enhance training to support civilian safety. "Our top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid," said a GHF spokesperson. An Israeli military spokesperson warned civilians against moving in areas leading to GHF sites on Wednesday, deeming them "combat zones". The new aid distribution process for Gaza's two million-plus population from just three sites was launched in the midst of a fierce new offensive by Israel since late last month. The UN and other aid groups say the model, which uses private US security and logistics workers, militarises aid. An Israeli airstrike killed at least 18 Palestinians on Wednesday morning, including women and children, at a school housing displaced families west of the southern city of Khan Younis, taking the day's toll to 21 so far. There was no immediate response from Israel, which says it is fighting to free remaining hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza and eliminate the group. The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it opened fire on a group of people it viewed as a threat near a GHF food aid distribution site. The International Committee of the Red Cross said at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured. The GHF said the incident was "well beyond" its site. Palestinians who collected food GHF boxes on Tuesday described scenes of pandemonium, with no-one overseeing the handover of supplies or checking IDs, as crowds jostled for aid. The UN Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, where malnutrition is widespread and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade in late May. "It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking — and in several instances losing — their lives just trying to get food," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, adding that the aid distribution model backed by the US and Israel was "all a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on". The newly created GHF said on Tuesday that it has given out more than seven million meals since it started operations a week ago. GHF Interim Executive Director John Acree urged humanitarians in Gaza: "Work with us and we will get your aid delivered to those who are depending on it." US Veto? Experts say Gaza's entire population of some 2.1 million people is at risk of famine despite successive efforts to boost aid. Jordan last year spearheaded humanitarian air drops, while the US briefly installed a floating aid pier, but it was beset by challenges. The UN has long-blamed Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for hindering the delivery of aid into Gaza and its distribution throughout the war zone. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies. The 10 elected members of the UN Security Council have asked for the 15-member body to vote on Wednesday on a draft resolution that demands "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties". The draft text, seen by Reuters, also demands the release of all hostages held by Hamas and others, and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on the entry of aid and its safe and unhindered distribution, including by the UN, throughout Gaza. "The time to act has already passed," Slovenia's UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told Reuters. "It is our historical responsibility not to remain silent." As US President Donald Trump's administration tries to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, it was not immediately clear if Washington would veto the draft text. A spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said: "We cannot preview our actions currently under consideration." A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain or France — to pass. The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an Oct 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. They do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants but say civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks and that thousands more bodies have been lost under rubble. [[nid:718679]]
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What is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the aid group backed by the US and Israel?
Over the past two weeks, a new Gaza aid group has been at work in the Palestinian territory, bypassing the longstanding UN-led aid system there with a new distribution mechanism and drawing criticism over various issues. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, said on Tuesday (Jun 3) that it has given out more than seven million meals from its aid centres "without incident". However, the Israeli military is facing allegations of shooting into crowds of civilians rushing to pick up aid packages near GHF sites, which it denies. On Tuesday, emergency responders said Israel's military killed at least 27 people near a GHF centre in Gaza, a figure later corroborated by the Red Cross. The United Nations has also denounced the foundation and refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. Here's what you need to know about the GHF and recent developments involving its aid operations in Gaza. What is the GHF? US consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) helped establish the GHF in October 2024, one year after the Oct 7 attack by Hamas in Israel. According to the Geneva commercial registry, the GHF was officially registered in February this year in Switzerland to oversee aid deliveries in Gaza. An officially private effort with opaque funding, GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel had completely cut off supplies into Gaza for over two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. The foundation has said it will work with private US security and logistics firms - UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions - according to a source familiar with the plan. A second source said that prior to starting its operations, the GHF had already received more than US$100 million in commitments. It was not immediately clear where the money had come from. Senior US officials were working with Israel to enable the GHF to start work, acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the Security Council in May, urging the UN and aid groups to cooperate. Israel said it would facilitate the GHF's work without being involved in aid deliveries. Chaired by evangelical Christian leader The GHF is operated by a group of American security contractors, ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officials. In late May, Jake Wood, a US military veteran who had co-founded a disaster relief group, resigned as CEO as he said it was clear the GHF would not be allowed to operate independently. It was unclear who would succeed him until Tuesday, when the GHF named evangelical Christian leader, Reverend Johnnie Moore, as its executive chairman. Moore, an adviser to US President Donald Trump on interfaith issues, has had a confrontational approach to the United Nations. After UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed revulsion at "reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza" on Sunday, Moore responded angrily. "Mr Secretary General, it was a lie," Moore posted to Guterres on X, "spread by terrorists & you're still spreading it. Correct this". On the same day that Moore was appointed, BCG said it had terminated its contract with the foundation and placed the partner leading the project on leave. "Unapproved follow-on work relating to Gaza lacked buy-in from multilateral stakeholders and was stopped on May 30. BCG has not and will not be paid for any of this work," the group said in a statement, adding that a formal review is underway. How does GHF deliver aid? The GHF bypasses the longstanding aid system in Gaza, where UN-led aid groups have been carrying out a massive operation moving food, medicine, fuel, tents and other supplies across Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. For decades, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, had spearheaded aid distribution in Gaza, with dozens of other organisations participating in efforts to assist the population. Israel has demanded an alternative plan because it accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid. The UN and aid groups deny there is significant diversion. Israel has also accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants, claiming that some of the agency's employees took part in the group's October 2023 attack. The new mechanism centralises and limits food distribution to a small number of hubs guarded by armed contractors, where people must go to pick up the food. Currently four hubs have been set up, all close to Israeli military positions. Aid will be delivered with the help of private subcontractors transporting supplies in armoured vehicles from the Gaza border to the hubs, where they will also provide security. The GHF said the aim is to deter criminal gangs or militants from redirecting aid. The GHF said each of its initial four hubs would serve meals for roughly 300,000 people. It also said it will eventually be able to meet the needs of 2 million people. One of the hubs is in central Gaza, close to the Netzarim Corridor, a strip of land held by Israeli troops, according to a map issued by the Israeli military. The three others are in the area of Rafah, south of the Morag Corridor, another military-held strip. Almost the entire population is currently in northern Gaza - where no hub is currently located - or in central Gaza. They would have to cross through Israeli military lines to reach the hubs near Rafah. The GHF said it will create more hubs within 30 days - including in the north - but did not specify their exact locations. The UN has rejected the new mechanism, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and will not be effective. Why do aid groups and the UN oppose it? The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns that its plan would "weaponise aid" for Israel's military and political purposes. They said Israel would have the power to determine who receives aid and to force the population to move to where it is being distributed, emptying large parts of the territory. That would potentially violate international laws against forced displacement. "We cannot take part in a system that violates humanitarian principles and risks implicating us in serious breaches of international law," said Shaina Low, communication adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, a leading aid group operating in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that under the aid mechanism, Gaza's population would eventually be moved to a 'sterile zone' in Gaza's far south. He said it was for their protection while Israeli forces fight Hamas elsewhere. He also said once the Palestinians enter the area, "they don't necessarily go back". Israel has also said that after Hamas is defeated, it will implement a plan proposed by Trump to relocate the territory's population outside Gaza, though it portrays migration as "voluntary". The Palestinians, along with nearly all of the international community, have rejected the idea. The GHF said in a statement that it is independent and apolitical and will not be part of any mass displacement, adding that its system is fully consistent with humanitarian principles including impartiality and independence. It also said food will be given according to need, without eligibility requirements, despite Israel previously telling aid groups that the country intends to vet aid recipients and use facial recognition technology. However, aid groups say recipients will have to pass close to or through Israeli military positions to reach the hubs, exposing them to vetting. The aid groups also noted that the GHF has said each meal it distributes would have 1,750 calories, which is below the 2,100-calorie per day standard for meals in emergency situations used by the UN's World Health Organization, UNICEF and World Food Program. They added that the GHF's plans for distributing non-food aid remain uncertain. Thus, the change is simply not necessary, said the aid workers. What has been happening at GHF aid sites? Scores of Palestinians have been killed or injured as chaos erupted near the aid centres on multiple occasions, prompting a call for an independent investigation by UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday. In one instance, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 people and wounded 176 near the aid distribution site in the southern city of Rafah on Sunday, with medics at nearby hospitals also reporting a deluge of gunshot wound victims. The Israeli military denied firing at people "while they were near or within" the site, and urged "media to be cautious with information published" by Hamas. But a military source acknowledged "warning shots were fired towards several suspects" overnight about a kilometre away from the GHF distribution centre, outside of operating hours. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that its field hospital in Rafah received 179 people, including 21 pronounced dead on arrival. The ICRC reported that all the wounded "said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site", adding that "the majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds". Pause in operations and what's next The GHF said it will not give out any aid on Wednesday (Jun 4) as it presses Israel to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites, a day after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed. It said it has asked the Israeli military to "guide foot traffic in a way that minimises confusion or escalation risks" near military perimeters; develop clearer guidance for civilians; and enhance training to support civilian safety. The UN Security Council is also set to vote on Wednesday on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza. "It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking - and in several instances losing - their lives just trying to get food," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, adding that the GHF aid distribution model was "all a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on".
