At least three Palestinians were killed in Gaza when the Israeli military opened fire on crowds of people who were gathering at an aid distribution point set up by a controversial organization backed by Israel and the United States. This incident took place in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday and resulted in 46 more people being wounded and seven going missing, according to authorities in Gaza.
The aid group responsible for the initiative, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), denied the report. They stated that operations have since returned to normal. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims that its troops fired warning shots outside of the distribution site and regained control.
This incident has drawn criticism from various organizations, including the United Nations and aid groups. However, both Israel and the US have defended their actions. Here’s a summary of the reactions:
1) United Nations: A spokesman for the UN Secretary-General expressed concern over the violence at the aid distribution site, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid to be distributed in a safe manner, guided by principles of independence and impartiality.
2) Palestine: The Government Media Office in Gaza strongly condemned the Israeli military’s actions, calling it a deliberate massacre and a war crime against civilians weakened by the ongoing siege.
3) Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the chaos at the aid distribution site but downplayed its significance. He also denied the existence of malnutrition in the Gaza Strip.
4) United States: The US State Department dismissed criticism of the aid program, attributing any issues to complaints about its style. They mentioned that Hamas has attempted to hinder the aid’s distribution but failed.
5) Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: In a statement, the GHF acknowledged the high demand at the distribution site and explained that they had to temporarily withdraw to ensure the safe distribution of aid. They also claimed to have distributed a significant amount of food.
6) Refugees International: Hardin Lang, Vice President for Policy and Programs at Refugees International, criticized the initiative for lacking a humanitarian approach. He emphasized the need for a large-scale and complex logistical operation to address famine and malnutrition.
7) Norwegian Refugee Council: Ahmed Bayram, spokesperson for the NRC, called on Israel and the US to cancel their initiative and allow humanitarian organizations to take over the aid distribution. He criticized the approach, arguing that it is not the proper way to deliver aid, especially considering the occupation status of the region.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/28/un-aid-groups-slam-us-israel-backed-initiative-after-deadly-rush-in-gaza?traffic_source=rss
