UN reports 613 killings near aid distribution points and convoys in Gaza
But she said 'it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points' operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Ms Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and 'there have been further incidents' since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ms Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and 'we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access' for UN teams to the areas.
In a message to The Associated Press, Ms Shamdasani said that of the total deaths, 509 killings were 'GHF-related' meaning at or near its distribution sites.
'Information keeps coming in,' she added. 'This is ongoing and it is unacceptable.'
The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military.
More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF. Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area.
Meanwhile, 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes, including eight women and one child, the hospital said. The strikes hit the Muwasi area, where many displaced Palestinians are sheltering in tents.
An Israeli army tank advances in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)
Israel's military said it was looking into Friday's reported strikes. The military, whose forces are deployed on the roads leading to the aid distribution sites, has previously said it fires warning shots to control crowds or at Palestinians who approach its troops.
Also on Friday, Israel's military said a soldier was killed in combat in the north of Gaza and it was investigating. Over 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war began, including more than 400 during the fighting in Gaza.
The recent killings took place as efforts to halt the 21-month war appeared to be moving forward.
Hamas said on Friday that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions to discuss a ceasefire proposal presented to it by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Hamas will give its final response to mediators after the discussions have concluded, the statement said.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in the territory has passed 57,000.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
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Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
UN reports 613 killings near aid distribution points and convoys in Gaza
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings. But she said 'it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points' operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys. Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Ms Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and 'there have been further incidents' since then. She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ms Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and 'we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access' for UN teams to the areas. In a message to The Associated Press, Ms Shamdasani said that of the total deaths, 509 killings were 'GHF-related' meaning at or near its distribution sites. 'Information keeps coming in,' she added. 'This is ongoing and it is unacceptable.' The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military. More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF. Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area. Meanwhile, 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes, including eight women and one child, the hospital said. The strikes hit the Muwasi area, where many displaced Palestinians are sheltering in tents. An Israeli army tank advances in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP) Israel's military said it was looking into Friday's reported strikes. The military, whose forces are deployed on the roads leading to the aid distribution sites, has previously said it fires warning shots to control crowds or at Palestinians who approach its troops. Also on Friday, Israel's military said a soldier was killed in combat in the north of Gaza and it was investigating. Over 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war began, including more than 400 during the fighting in Gaza. The recent killings took place as efforts to halt the 21-month war appeared to be moving forward. Hamas said on Friday that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions to discuss a ceasefire proposal presented to it by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Hamas will give its final response to mediators after the discussions have concluded, the statement said. The Health Ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in the territory has passed 57,000. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital 'one massive trauma ward'
GENEVA, July 4 (Reuters) - Nasser hospital in Gaza is operating as "one massive trauma ward" due to an influx of patients wounded at non-United Nations food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred. The GHF told Reuters on Friday that "the most deadly attacks on aid sites have been linked to U.N. convoys," and said the U.N. and humanitarian groups should work "collaboratively" with the GHF to "maximise the amount of aid being securely delivered into Gaza". The U.N. in Geneva was immediately available for comment. Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: "They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward." Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. "We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys - this is a figure as of June 27. Since then ... there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF dismissed these numbers as coming "directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry" and were being used to "falsely smear" its effort. The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 60 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks "safely and without interference", while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted." The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable. Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO. Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF. Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic. "There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a "final proposal" for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
613 Gaza killings recorded at aid sites and humanitarian convoys
The Gaza Health Ministry said that it believes the number of deaths at aid sites is more than 650, with those who have been wounded exceeding 4000. It comes after 94 Palestinians were killed in Gaza overnight on Thursday, including 45 who were attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid, hospitals and the Health Ministry said. The GHF began distributing limited food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries which the UN says is neither impartial nor neutral. READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn confirms launch of new party – read the full statement More than 130 humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International, demanded the immediate closure of the GHF this week, accusing it of facilitating attacks on starving Palestinians. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said, 'it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points' operated by GHF. Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and 'there have been further incidents' since then. Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and 'we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access' for UN teams to the areas. In a message to The Associated Press, Shamdasani said that of the total deaths, 509 killings were 'GHF-related', meaning at or near its distribution sites. 'Information keeps coming in,' she added. 'This is ongoing and it is unacceptable.' She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside its immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which carried out aid distribution for decades before the GHF took over in May, has called for investigations into the killings and wounding of Palestinians trying to access food. UNRWA said that while it operated about 400 sites across the territory, GHF has set up only four 'mega-sites', three in the south and one in central Gaza with none in the north, where humanitarian conditions are most severe.
