Latest news with #MohammedAbuTeaima
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Israel Accuses Hamas Of Firing At Aid Centre In Gaza That Killed Over 30
Gaza: The Israeli military has denied its involvement in the attack near an aid delivery centre in Southern Gaza's Rafah, where at least 31 people were killed and over 170 were wounded on Sunday after gunmen opened fire at large crowds on their way to receive food. Releasing purported drone footage of the attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) accused Hamas gunmen of firing shots, saying the armed group is doing "everything in its power" to stop Palestinians from getting food in Gaza. "Drone footage shows gunmen in Gaza shooting at civilians going to collect aid. Hamas is doing everything in its power to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza," the IDF said in a post on X, adding purported footage of the attack. The footage shows armed, masked men firing at civilians trying to collect aid. NDTV could not independently verify the video, and it was not clear who the gunmen were and who was being targeted. Οι Γαζαίοι πεινάνε τώρα, αλλά όταν περιέφεραν τα τομάρια των νεκρών Ισραηλινών μέσα στη Γάζα ούρλιαζαν σαν ουρακοτάγκοι & κερνούσαν τον κόσμο μπακλαβά. Τώρα τρώνε σφαίρες από Χαμάς αν αρπάξουν κανα ψωμί. @Urfurslaag: Έφτιαξα νέο αντισημιτικό πίνακα ✊ — Δον Κιχώτης 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇪🇺 (@tengo_69) June 1, 2025 Israel's military denied its forces fired at civilians near or within the site in the southern city of Rafah. However, an Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Associated Press that troops did fire warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. Meanwhile, quoting witnesses, Associated Press reported that it was the Israeli forces who fired toward the crowds just before dawn around a kilometre from an aid site run by an Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). GHS, in a statement, also claimed that it delivered aid "without incident," and released a separate video on Sunday, which it claimed was at the site that appeared to show people collecting aid. The foundation has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent media have no access. Mass Casualties The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement that its field hospital in Rafah received 179 casualties, including women and children. It said that 21 of them were declared dead upon arrival, the majority with gunshot or shrapnel wounds. It was unclear if any of the dead were Hamas operatives. "All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site," the ICRC said, calling it the highest number of "weapon-wounded" people in a single incident since the hospital was set up over a year ago. Mohammed Abu Teaima, a Gaza resident, told AP that he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and a woman as they headed toward the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest, and his brother-in-law was among the wounded. 'They opened heavy fire directly toward us,' he said. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, said the military fired from about 300 meters (yards) away. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. The head of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, told ABC News that staffers on the ground were reporting people killed and called it a "tragedy." "Aid distribution has become a death trap," the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement. The United Nations has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its nearly three-month blockade of the territory last month. The bloc said Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians.
Roya News
4 days ago
- Health
- Roya News
Over 20 killed as "Israeli" forces open fire at Gaza aid distribution site
More than 20 people were killed Sunday at an aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip, according to a hospital operated by the Red Cross that received the victims' bodies. The aid site is run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American organization backed by the Israeli Occupation. Witnesses told the Associated Press (AP) that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire on crowds heading toward the distribution center in Rafah. 'There were many martyrs, including women,' a 40-year-old local resident said. 'We were about 300 metres away from the military.' Dozens of injured people were being treated at the hospital, with officials reporting around 175 wounded in total. The field hospital did not specify who fired but confirmed the scale of casualties. An AP reporter observed the treatment of many patients at the scene. The IOF stated they were 'currently unaware' of injuries caused by their fire and said they were investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the GHF claimed in a statement that their aid delivery early Sunday took place 'without incident' and denied previous reports of gunfire or chaos at their sites, which lie in IOF zones where independent access is restricted. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, a witness, said IOF soldiers fired from about 300 metres away and described seeing many with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. 'We weren't able to help him,' he said. Another witness, Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw the IOF shoot and kill his cousin and another woman on their way to the distribution hub. 'They opened heavy fire directly toward us,' he said, waiting for news about his wounded relative outside the hospital. The distribution point is part of a new, controversial system of aid delivery. The IOF has not commented directly on this latest shooting, and the GHF said its private security personnel did not open fire on the crowd. Tensions around the sites remain high. On 28 May, Hamas accused "Israel" of killing at least three Palestinians and injuring 46 near one of GHF's centers—claims "Israel" denied, stating their troops fired warning shots to restore order as thousands rushed the aid point. "Israel" has imposed a blockade on all supplies into Gaza since March, citing concerns that Hamas was diverting aid for military use—a claim denied by the group. A global hunger monitor recently reported that half a million Gazans face starvation. The International Planning Committee (IPC) warned nearly 71,000 children under five in Gaza are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the coming 11 months, with over 14,000 cases likely to be severe. The UN and other humanitarian groups have rejected the new distribution system, arguing it cannot meet the needs of Gaza's 2.3 million people and effectively allows "Israel" to use food as leverage over the population. They also warned that friction between the IOF and desperate aid seekers could escalate violence. These organizations have also questioned the capacity of the newly formed GHF, which lacks experience in managing aid logistics on such a large scale in an active conflict zone—a concern underscored by recent violent incidents. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), criticized the new US-backed model, calling it 'a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities.' 'We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose,' Lazzarini said. 'The humanitarian community in Gaza, including UNRWA, is ready. We have the experience and expertise to reach people in need. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking towards famine, so humanitarian [work] must be allowed to do its life-saving work now.' The deadly aid center shooting coincides with recent developments in ceasefire negotiations. On Saturday, Hamas announced it had submitted an amended response to a proposal by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, marking the most concrete progress towards a truce since March. Hamas said the deal would include releasing 10 living captives and 18 bodies in exchange for "Israeli" release of Palestinian prisoners. The updated proposal also demands an end to the war, a condition "Israel" had previously rejected, and suggests the staged release of captives over 60 days rather than in two initial batches. Witkoff dismissed Hamas's response as 'totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,' urging immediate acceptance of the original framework to advance proximity talks. The "Israeli" Prime Minister's office stated: 'While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal … Israel will continue its action for the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas.'
