Israeli soldiers opened fire on Tuesday morning near crowds of Palestinians approaching a new food distribution site in southern Gaza, resulting in at least 27 fatalities, according to the Red Cross and Gaza health ministry. This incident marks the second shooting by Israeli forces in three days at the same location in Rafah, where thousands of Palestinians gather daily in search of food aid.
The Israeli military stated that the shootings occurred approximately 500 yards from the distribution site. On Sunday, another shooting at the same site resulted in the deaths of at least 23 individuals. The military claimed that the troops fired at "suspects" who had strayed from the designated route and did not heed warning shots, but declined to clarify the nature of the perceived threat.
The recent violence is part of a broader context involving a new Israeli and American-backed initiative for food distribution in Gaza, which has faced criticism from the United Nations for being insufficient to meet the needs of the population. The initiative has established only four aid distribution points, significantly fewer than the hundreds previously coordinated by the U.N. aid system, and many of these sites remain non-operational on any given day.
International criticism of Israel's actions has intensified, with countries like Britain, France, and Canada condemning the military's blockade on humanitarian aid and the threats of a large-scale offensive against Hamas as "wholly disproportionate." Aid agencies warn that Gaza is at risk of widespread starvation due to the blockade that lasted from March to May.
Witnesses have described chaotic scenes at the new aid sites, where large crowds of Palestinians arrive early in the morning, often resulting in a scramble for limited food supplies. The distribution is managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which employs American contractors, replacing a U.N.-led system that previously operated from around 400 sites.
The United Nations has expressed concerns that the new system endangers civilians by forcing them to traverse dangerous areas to access food. Aid groups have highlighted the risks associated with the new distribution method, with one emergency coordinator stating that the recent events demonstrate its dehumanizing and dangerous nature.
Many casualties from the shootings have been treated at a field hospital operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Rafah. Reports indicate that medical facilities are struggling with critical shortages of supplies, complicating their ability to treat the wounded.
Some Israeli officials have suggested that Hamas is attempting to undermine the new food distribution system by inciting chaos. The situation remains tense as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to evolve amid ongoing violence.