ADVERTISEMENTOn Sunday, at least 25 people were killed and 175 wounded while on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to a Red Cross field hospital and multiple witnesses. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces fired on crowds approximately 1,000 meters away from an aid site managed by an Israeli-backed organization.
The Israeli military stated in a brief release that they were “currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site.”
The Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, responsible for distributing aid in Gaza, claimed in a statement that they delivered aid “without incident” early Sunday. They have also denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around their sites, which are located in Israeli military zones with restricted independent access.
Chaos surrounds new aid system
The distribution of aid by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been marred by chaos, with multiple witnesses reporting Israeli troops firing on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded according to local health officials.
UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to collaborate with the foundation, arguing that it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control aid distribution and forcing people to relocate to distribution sites, resulting in additional mass displacement in the enclave.
Israel and the United States claim that the new system aims to prevent Hamas from misappropriating assistance. Israel has failed to provide evidence of systematic diversion, and the UN denies that such diversion has occurred.
Shooting occurs near distribution point
On Sunday, gunfire broke out at a roundabout around a kilometer away from the distribution site, in an area under Israeli force control, witnesses said.
Ibrahim Abu Saoud, an eyewitness, reported that Israeli forces opened fire on individuals approaching the aid distribution center.
“Many martyrs, including women, were among the casualties,” the 40-year-old resident said. “We were about 300 meters away from the military.”
Abu Saoud witnessed numerous gunshot wounds among the victims, including a young man who died at the scene. “We were unable to help him,” he stated.
Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, alleged that he saw Israeli forces opening fire and killing his cousin and another woman as they were heading to the site. He described how his cousin was shot in the chest and died instantly. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law.
“They unleashed heavy fire directly towards us,” he testified while waiting outside the Red Cross field hospital for news about his wounded relative.
