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Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Health
- Gulf Today
Over 30 Palestinians killed trying to reach US group's food aid centres
Israeli troops opened fire on Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a US-Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The two incidents occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The organisation launched operations in late May with backing from the US and Israel. The two governments are seeking to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, saying that Hamas siphons off supplies. The UN denies the allegation. While the GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say that hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli army fire as they try to reach the distribution hubs. The army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, says it only fires warning shots if crowds get too close to its forces. The GHF, which employs private armed guards, says there have been no deadly shootings at its sites, though this week, 20 people were killed at one of its locations, most of them in a stampede. The group accused Hamas agitators of causing a panic, but gave no evidence to back the claim. Relatives of Palestinians killed at an aid distribution centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation mourn over their bodies during their funeral at Nasser Hospital. Associated Press The army and GHF did not immediately comment on Saturday's violence. Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed in the Teina area, around three kilometres (2 miles) away from a GHF aid distribution centre east of the city of Khan Younis. 'It was a massacre' Mahmoud Mokeimar, an eyewitness, said he was walking with masses of people – mostly young men – toward the food hub. Troops fired warning shots as the crowds advanced, before opening fire toward the marching people. "It was a massacre ... the occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately," he said. He said he managed to flee but saw at least three motionless bodies lying on the ground, and many other wounded fleeing. Akram Aker, another witness, said troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones. He said the shooting happened between 5am and 6am. "They encircled us and started firing directly at us," he said. He said he saw many casualties lying on the ground. Sanaa al-Jaberi, a 55-year-old woman, said she saw many dead and wounded as she fled the area. "We shouted: 'food, food,' but they didn't talk to us. They just opened fire," she said. Monzer Fesifes, a Palestinian-Jordanian, said his 19-year-old son Hisham was among those killed in the Teina area. "He went to bring food from the failed US, Zionist aid to feed us," the father of six said, pleading for the Jordanian government to help evacuate them from the Palestinian enclave. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 25 bodies, along with dozens wounded. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of another GHF hub in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, the hospital said. The toll was also confirmed by the health ministry. Most 'shot in the head, chest' Dr. Mohamed Saker, the head of Nasser's nursing department, said it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most of the casualties were shot in their heads and chests, and that some were placed in the already overwhelmed intensive care unit. "The situation is difficult and tragic," he said, adding that the facility lacks badly needed medical supplies to treat the daily flow of casualties. Gaza's more than 2 million Palestinians are living through a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and the territory is teetering on the edge of famine, according to food security experts. Distribution at the GHF sites has often been chaotic. Boxes of food are left stacked on the ground inside the centres and, once opened, crowds charge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF itself. In videos obtained recently by the AP from an American contractor working with GHF, contractors are seen using tear gas and stun grenades to keep crowds behind metal fences or to force them to disperse. Gunshots can also be heard. Associated Press
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Health
- The Mainichi
32 Palestinians shot dead trying to reach US group's food distribution sites, Gaza authorities say
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The U.S. and Israel seek to replace the traditional U.N.-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The U.N. denies the allegation. While GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. GHF's four sites are in military-controlled zones. Israel's army, which isn't at the sites but secures them from a distance, said Saturday that it fired warning shots near Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, "we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours." Witnesses allege indiscriminate fire Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 3 kilometers (2 miles) from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis. Mahmoud Mokeimar said that he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire. "The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately," he said. He said that he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing. Akram Aker, another witness, said that troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. "They encircled us and started firing directly at us," Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground. Sanaa al-Jaberi said that there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. "Is this food or death? Why? They don't talk with us, they only shoot us," she said, and showed off her empty bag. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said that it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of meters or yards north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Dr. Mohamed Saker, the head of Nasser's nursing department, said that it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest. "The situation is difficult and tragic," he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher. Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said that two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that 12 people were killed in an airstrike including police official Omar Aqel. Two children, including an infant, and five women -- all relatives of Aqel -- were among the dead. Al-Awda Hospital said that it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij, and that another strike on a group of people along Salah El Din street in central Gaza killed a child. Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four people, according to the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service. A strike on a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed another four people, the service said. Israel's army had no comment on specific strikes, but said that it had struck around 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Humanitarian crisis Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at GHF sites is often chaotic. Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF. Hamas triggered the 21-month war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead. The ministry, which says more than half of the dead have been women and children, is part of the Hamas government. But the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs. "After 652 days, it is time to do what is right for Israel: Bring all 50 hostages home and end this war," Efrat Machikawa, a relative of released hostage Gadi Moses, told the weekly rally in Tel Aviv. Thousands of people later marched to the local branch of the U.S. Embassy to demand a ceasefire deal. West Bank church attack In the occupied West Bank, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian Christian village, Taybeh, where residents say extremist Israeli settlers set fire to the Church of St. George on July 9. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, condemned the attack. "To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship -- it's an act of terror and it's a crime," he said. The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence since the start of the war in Gaza. Palestinians say Israeli security forces have done little to stop the violence, and few settlers have been punished.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
32 killed in Gaza while seeking aid
Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a US- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation. While GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. GHF's four sites are in military-controlled zones. Israel's army, which isn't at the sites but secures them from a distance, said Saturday that it fired warning shots near Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, 'we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours." Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 3 kilometers from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis. Mahmoud Mokeimar said that he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire. 'The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,' he said. He said that he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing. Akram Aker, another witness, said that troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. 'They encircled us and started firing directly at us,' Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground. Sanaa al-Jaberi said that there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. 'Is this food or death? Why? They don't talk with us, they only shoot us,' she said, and showed off her empty bag. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said that it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of meters or yards north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Dr. Mohamed Saker, the head of Nasser's nursing department, said that it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest. 'The situation is difficult and tragic,' he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher. Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said that two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that 12 people were killed in an airstrike including police official Omar Aqel. Two children, including an infant, and five women — all relatives of Aqel — were among the dead. Al-Awda Hospital said that it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij, and that another strike on a group of people along Salah El Din street in central Gaza killed a child. Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four people, according to the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service. A strike on a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed another four people, the service said. Israel's Army had no comment on specific strikes, but said that it had struck around 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at GHF sites is often chaotic. Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF. Hamas triggered the 21-month war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead. The ministry, which says more than half of the dead have been women and children, is part of the Hamas government. But the UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs. 'After 652 days, it is time to do what is right for Israel: Bring all 50 hostages home and end this war,' Efrat Machikawa, a relative of released hostage Gadi Moses, told the weekly rally in Tel Aviv. Thousands of people later marched to the local branch of the US Embassy to demand a ceasefire deal. In the occupied West Bank, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian Christian village, Taybeh, where residents say extremist Israeli settlers set fire to the Church of St. George on July 9. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, condemned the attack. 'To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship — it's an act of terror and it's a crime,' he said. The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence since the start of the war in Gaza. Palestinians say Israeli security forces have done little to stop the violence, and few settlers have been punished. (AP)
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
‘They don't talk…they only shoot us': 32 Palestinians shot dead while reaching US group's food distribution sites
Israeli troops opened fire on Saturday at crowds of Palestinians attempting to access food from aid distribution centres in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The incident occurred near facilities run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a group backed by the US and Israel that began operations in May. The initiative aims to replace the UN-led aid system, which the U.S. and Israel claim is exploited by Hamas, an allegation the UN denies, as reported by AP. While GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. GHF's four sites are in military-controlled zones, AP reported. GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, 'We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours." Most of the fatalities on Saturday took place about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid center near the southern city of Khan Younis. According to witness Akram Aker, Israeli troops used machine guns mounted on tanks and drones to open fire between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. 'They surrounded us and began shooting directly at us,' Aker said, adding that he saw numerous people lying wounded or dead on the ground, as reported by AP. Sanaa al-Jaberi said that there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. 'Is this food or death? Why? They don't talk with us, they only shoot us,' she said, and showed off her empty bag. Gaza's population of over 2 million faces a severe humanitarian crisis. Aid distribution at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites is often disorderly, with food boxes placed on the ground and crowds rushing in to grab supplies, according to witnesses and GHF-released footage. The ongoing 21-month war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Around 50 hostages remain, though fewer than half are believed to be alive. Israel's military response has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. The ministry, run by the Hamas-led government, is still regarded by the U.N. and other international bodies as the most reliable source for casualty figures.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
32 Palestinians shot dead trying to reach US group's food distribution sites, Gaza authorities say
Israel's army, which isn't at the sites but secures them from a distance, said Saturday that it fired warning shots near Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, 'we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.' Advertisement Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 2 miles from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis. Mahmoud Mokeimar said that he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire. 'The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,' he said. He said that he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing. Advertisement Akram Aker, another witness, said that troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. 'They encircled us and started firing directly at us,' Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground. Sanaa al-Jaberi said that there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. 'Is this food or death? Why? They don't talk with us, they only shoot us,' she said, and showed off her empty bag. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said that it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of meters or yards north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Dr. Mohamed Saker, the head of Nasser's nursing department, said that it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest. 'The situation is difficult and tragic,' he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher. Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said that two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that 12 people were killed in an airstrike including police official Omar Aqel. Two children, including an infant, and five women — all relatives of Aqel — were among the dead. Advertisement Al-Awda Hospital said that it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij, and that another strike on a group of people along Salah El Din street in central Gaza killed a child. Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four people, according to the Health Ministry's ambulance and emergency service. A strike on a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed another four people, the service said. Israel's army had no comment on specific strikes, but said that it had struck around 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at GHF sites is often chaotic. Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF. Hamas triggered the 21-month war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead. The ministry, which says more than half of the dead have been women and children, is part of the Hamas government. But the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs. Advertisement 'After 652 days, it is time to do what is right for Israel: Bring all 50 hostages home and end this war,' Efrat Machikawa, a relative of released hostage Gadi Moses, told the weekly rally in Tel Aviv. Thousands of people later marched to the local branch of the U.S. Embassy to demand a ceasefire deal, with many holding posters of hostages. In the occupied West Bank, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian Christian village, Taybeh, where residents say extremist Israeli settlers set fire to the Church of St. George on July 9. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, condemned the attack. 'To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship — it's an act of terror and it's a crime,' he said. The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence since the start of the war in Gaza. Palestinians say Israeli security forces have done little to stop the violence, and few settlers have been punished. ___ Samy Magdy reported from Cairo. ___ Follow AP's war coverage at
