Reports from Palestinian health officials and witnesses indicate that at least four individuals have been killed and others wounded by Israeli fire near an aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
The aid site is run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by both Israel and the US. The incident occurred approximately one kilometre from the distribution point.
The deceased were transported to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where the death toll was confirmed. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces opened fire at a roundabout in Rafah, southern Gaza, as they were en route to collect food from the GHF site.
In response, the Israeli military stated that warning shots were fired at individuals who approached their forces and disregarded calls to turn back. According to the military, the shooting took place in an active combat zone in southern Gaza during the night.
The GHF has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food.
Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. Israel’s military has said it fired warning shots or, in some instances, near individuals approaching its forces.
Witnesses said Sunday’s shooting occurred at around 6am, when they were told the site would open. Many had headed toward it early to try and get desperately needed food before the crowds.
Adham Dahman, 30, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank had fired toward them. “We didn’t know how to escape,” he said. “This is trap for us, not aid.”
Zahed Ben Hassan, another witness, said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said that he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital.
“They said it was a safe area from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. … So why did they start shooting at us?” he said. “There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.”
The hubs are set up inside Israeli military zones — where independent media have no access — and are run by GHF, a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants it to replace a system coordinated by the United Nations and international aid groups.
Israel and the United States accuse the militant Hamas group of stealing aid, while the U.N. denies there is any systematic diversion. The U.N. says the new system is unable to meet mounting needs and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon by determining who can receive it and forcing people to relocate to where the aid sites are positioned.
The U.N. system has meanwhile struggled to deliver aid — even after Israel eased its complete blockade of Gaza last month. U.N. officials say their efforts are hindered by Israeli military restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting.
