Latest news with #AbdelKareemHana
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
At Least 27 Palestinians Killed Near Gaza Aid Hub
Palestinians mourn over the body of Reem Al-Akhras who was killed while heading to a Gaza aid hub, during her funeral at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Credit - AP Photo—Abdel Kareem Hana At least 27 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli fire as they tried to collect aid near a distribution hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry and witnesses. It marks the third deadly incident in three days around the Rafah aid hub run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed group that was established last month to replace U.N. agencies and other aid organizations. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on X that it is 'aware of reports regarding casualties, and the details of the incident are being looked into.' 'Troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes. The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects,' the statement added. The U.N. and other aid agencies have blasted the new aid distribution system, saying it does not address the mounting hunger crisis in Gaza and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon. 'Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism,' U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said Tuesday. Türk called for a 'prompt and impartial investigation.' 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime,' he added. Israel has said the new aid system allows it to prevent Hamas from stealing aid, but has provided no evidence of a systemic siphoning of supplies. The head of GHF, Jake Wood, resigned on May 25 saying it would not be able to work in a way that met 'humanitarian principles.' GHF began operations the following day. On May 27, at least one Palestinian was killed and 48 wounded as desperate crowds scrambled to collect aid at the new GHF hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry and witnesses. On Sunday, June 1, at least 31 Palestinians were killed and nearly 170 injured near the GHF distribution site in Rafah, Gaza's health ministry said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement its field hospital in Rafah received a 'mass casualty influx' and that the majority had sustained shrapnel and gunshot wounds. 'Once again, desperate hungry civilians get killed & injured while trying to reach aid. It should be delivered to them safely & with dignity,' ICRC spokesperson Hisham Mhanna said in a post on X. The IDF said in a June 1 statement on X that it 'did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false.' On Monday, June 2, at least three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near a GHF aid hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry. The IDF said in a statement that 'warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward' troops about 0.6 mi. from the site. The new GHF aid distribution system follows a two month blockade from Israel, in which essential food and medical supplies have dwindled, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Food security experts have warned of a 'critical risk of famine.' The new aid distribution model comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on May 18 that Israel would ease the blockade and let in a 'basic' amount of food to Gaza. The comments came hours after Israel launched a major ground offensive. Contact us at letters@


Japan Today
18 hours ago
- Health
- Japan Today
Israeli forces open fire a kilometer away from Gaza aid site, killing 3
Palestinians pray during the funeral of a person who was killed while heading to a Gaza aid hub, along with three others who were killed during an Israeli strike, as they gather at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) By MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip opened fire early Monday as people headed toward an aid distribution site a kilometer away, killing at least three and wounding dozens, health officials and a witness said. The military said it fired warning shots at 'suspects' who approached its forces. The shooting occurred at the same location where witnesses say Israeli forces fired a day earlier on crowds heading toward the aid hub in southern Gaza run by the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on Monday toward 'several suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them,' around a kilometer away from the aid distribution site at a time when it was closed. The army denied it was preventing people from reaching the site. The United Nations and major aid groups have rejected the foundation's new system for aid distribution. They say it violates humanitarian principles and cannot meet mounting needs in the territory of roughly 2 million people, where experts have warned of famine because of an Israeli blockade that was only slightly eased last month. In a separate incident Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck 'terror targets' across northern Gaza, without elaborating. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militant group is entrenched in populated areas. Also Monday, the Palestinian Authority said a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank in the Palestinian village of Sinjil. In a statement, the Israeli military said troops in the Sinjil area had opened fire and 'neutralized' someone who threw two bottles containing a dangerous substance at them. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesperson. He said most had gunfire and shrapnel wounds. Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said it received a third body. Moataz al-Feirani, 21, who was being treated at Nasser Hospital, said he was shot in his leg as he walked with a crowd of thousands toward the aid distribution site. He said Israeli forces opened fire as they neared the Flag Roundabout at around 5:30 a.m. 'We had nothing, and they (military) were watching us," he said, adding that drones were filming them. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and over 170 wounded at the Flag Roundabout as large crowds headed toward the aid site, according to local health officials, aid groups and several eyewitnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds at around 3 a.m. after ordering them to disperse and come back when the distribution site opens. Israel's military on Sunday denied its forces fired at civilians near the aid site in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, a military zone off limits to independent media. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with procedure, said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident. On Sunday night, the foundation issued a statement, saying aid recipients must stay on the designated route to reach the hub Monday, and that Israeli troops are positioned along the way to ensure their security. 'Leaving the road is extremely dangerous,' the statement said. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was 'appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza' on Sunday. 'It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.' He called for an independent investigation into what happened. Israel and the United States say they helped establish the new aid system to circumvent Hamas, which they accuse of siphoning off assistance. U.N. agencies deny there is any systemic diversion of aid and say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances to receive it. Palestinians must pass close to Israeli forces and cross military lines to reach the GHF hubs, in contrast to the U.N. aid network, which delivers aid to where Palestinians are located. The Israel-Hamas war began when Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive. Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned, and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile. It has said it will maintain control of Gaza indefinitely and facilitate what it refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its population. Palestinians and most of the international community have rejected the resettlement plans, viewing them as forcible expulsion. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Israeli troops open fire close to Gaza aid site, killing three, say officials
The military said it fired warning shots at 'suspects' who approached its forces in Rafah. The shooting occurred at the same location where witnesses say Israeli forces fired a day earlier on crowds of people heading toward the aid hub in southern Gaza run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Palestinians with aid packages received from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on Monday towards 'several suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them', around a kilometre away from the aid distribution site at a time when it was closed. The army denied it was preventing people from reaching the site. The United Nations and major aid groups have rejected the foundation's new system for aid distribution. They say it violates humanitarian principles and cannot meet mounting needs in the territory of roughly two million people, where experts have warned of famine because of an Israeli blockade that was only slightly eased last month. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck 'terror targets' across northern Gaza, without elaborating. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militant group is entrenched in populated areas. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesman. He said most had gunfire and shrapnel wounds. Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said it received a third body. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 wounded as large crowds headed toward the aid site, according to local health officials, aid groups and several witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds after ordering them to disperse and come back when the distribution site opened. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israel's military on Sunday denied its forces fired at civilians near the aid site in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, a military zone off limits to independent media. An Israeli military official said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident. On Sunday night, the foundation issued a statement, saying aid recipients must stay on the designated route to reach the hub on Monday, and that Israeli troops were positioned along the way to ensure their security. 'Leaving the road is extremely dangerous,' the statement said. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was 'appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza'. 'It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,' he said in a statement. 'I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.' Israel and the US say they helped establish the new aid system to circumvent Hamas, which they accuse of siphoning off assistance. UN agencies deny there is any systemic diversion of aid and say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances to receive it. Palestinians must pass close to Israeli forces and cross military lines to reach the GHF hubs, in contrast to the UN aid network, which delivers aid to where Palestinians are located.

South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Israeli troops open fire close to Gaza aid site, killing three, say officials
The military said it fired warning shots at 'suspects' who approached its forces in Rafah. The shooting occurred at the same location where witnesses say Israeli forces fired a day earlier on crowds of people heading toward the aid hub in southern Gaza run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Palestinians with aid packages received from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on Monday towards 'several suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them', around a kilometre away from the aid distribution site at a time when it was closed. The army denied it was preventing people from reaching the site. The United Nations and major aid groups have rejected the foundation's new system for aid distribution. They say it violates humanitarian principles and cannot meet mounting needs in the territory of roughly two million people, where experts have warned of famine because of an Israeli blockade that was only slightly eased last month. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck 'terror targets' across northern Gaza, without elaborating. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militant group is entrenched in populated areas. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesman. He said most had gunfire and shrapnel wounds. Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said it received a third body. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 wounded as large crowds headed toward the aid site, according to local health officials, aid groups and several witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds after ordering them to disperse and come back when the distribution site opened. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israel's military on Sunday denied its forces fired at civilians near the aid site in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, a military zone off limits to independent media. An Israeli military official said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident. On Sunday night, the foundation issued a statement, saying aid recipients must stay on the designated route to reach the hub on Monday, and that Israeli troops were positioned along the way to ensure their security. 'Leaving the road is extremely dangerous,' the statement said. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was 'appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza'. 'It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,' he said in a statement. 'I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.' Israel and the US say they helped establish the new aid system to circumvent Hamas, which they accuse of siphoning off assistance. UN agencies deny there is any systemic diversion of aid and say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances to receive it. Palestinians must pass close to Israeli forces and cross military lines to reach the GHF hubs, in contrast to the UN aid network, which delivers aid to where Palestinians are located.


The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Israeli troops open fire close to Gaza aid site, killing three, say officials
The shooting occurred at the same location where witnesses say Israeli forces fired a day earlier on crowds of people heading toward the aid hub in southern Gaza run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Palestinians with aid packages received from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on Monday towards 'several suspects who advanced toward the troops and posed a threat to them', around a kilometre away from the aid distribution site at a time when it was closed. The army denied it was preventing people from reaching the site. The United Nations and major aid groups have rejected the foundation's new system for aid distribution. They say it violates humanitarian principles and cannot meet mounting needs in the territory of roughly two million people, where experts have warned of famine because of an Israeli blockade that was only slightly eased last month. In a separate incident on Monday, an Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed 14 people, according to health officials. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals confirmed the toll from the strike in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, saying five women and seven children were among those killed. The military said it had struck 'terror targets' across northern Gaza, without elaborating. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militant group is entrenched in populated areas. A Red Cross field hospital received 50 wounded people, including two declared dead on arrival, after the shooting in southern Gaza, according to Hisham Mhanna, a Red Cross spokesman. He said most had gunfire and shrapnel wounds. Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said it received a third body. On Sunday, at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 wounded as large crowds headed toward the aid site, according to local health officials, aid groups and several witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds after ordering them to disperse and come back when the distribution site opened. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israel's military on Sunday denied its forces fired at civilians near the aid site in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, a military zone off limits to independent media. An Israeli military official said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident. On Sunday night, the foundation issued a statement, saying aid recipients must stay on the designated route to reach the hub on Monday, and that Israeli troops were positioned along the way to ensure their security. 'Leaving the road is extremely dangerous,' the statement said. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was 'appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza'. 'It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,' he said in a statement. 'I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.' Israel and the US say they helped establish the new aid system to circumvent Hamas, which they accuse of siphoning off assistance. UN agencies deny there is any systemic diversion of aid and say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances to receive it. Palestinians must pass close to Israeli forces and cross military lines to reach the GHF hubs, in contrast to the UN aid network, which delivers aid to where Palestinians are located.