At least 24 martyred, 200 injured near Gaza aid distribution centre in Rafah
GAZA (WAM)At least 24 Palestinian civilians were martyred and more than 200 others wounded on Tuesday after Israeli forces opened fire and shelled thousands of displaced people waiting for humanitarian aid west of Rafah city in southern Gaza.According to local reporters, Israeli artillery and warplanes targeted crowds gathered near the aid distribution centre in the vicinity of Al-Alam roundabout, west of Rafah.The victims were among those awaiting desperately needed humanitarian assistance.Doctors Without Borders confirmed that dozens of Palestinians have been killed at US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution points. The organisation warned that these recent incidents underscore the inhumanity and ineffectiveness of the new aid delivery system, which it described as extremely dangerous.With blood banks nearing depletion, medical teams on the ground were forced to donate blood themselves to help treat the wounded. The organisation stressed that weaponising humanitarian aid in this manner may amount to a crime against humanity.UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the new aid mechanism, calling it a 'deadly trap'. He urged Israel to lift the blockade, and allow the United Nations safe and unfettered access to deliver and distribute humanitarian assistance across the Gaza Strip.Lazzarini emphasised that the UN must be allowed to carry out independent aid operations to prevent widespread famine, particularly among Gaza's one million children. He also called on Israel to permit international media access to the territory to report on the ongoing atrocities.He noted that under the new system, distribution is limited to just three or four locations, forcing civilians to travel long distances in dangerous conditions. Previously, aid was distributed across 400 sites. So far, 310 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the war began.Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed 54,470 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and wounded 124,693 others, according to the latest figures.The actual death toll is believed to be higher, as many victims remain trapped under rubble or in areas rescue teams cannot access due to continued attacks.
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