Gazan Health Ministry Says Dozens Killed Outside Aid Distribution Center
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that at least 27 Palestinians were killed Tuesday outside a humanitarian aid distribution center. According to the Israeli military, troops fired warning shots after suspicious figures deviated from the designated routes and moved toward them. When those shots were ignored and the suspects continued advancing, troops fired shots in their direction.
Israel’s military said it was “aware of reports regarding casualties” and that it was investigating. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US- and Israel-backed organization that’s been responsible for aid distribution in Gaza, also said in a statement that it was aware of the incident.
“This was an area well beyond our secure distribution site and operations area. We recognize the difficult nature of the situation and advise all civilians to remain in the safe corridor when traveling to our distribution sites,” the group said.
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UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday that “attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.”
GHF has been responsible for aid distribution since late May, when Israel began allowing “basic aid” into Gaza following months of a near-total blockade. The organization has distributed around 6 million meals during its first week of operation, but it has also been harshly criticized by the UN and other international organizations as violating humanitarian principles.
On each of the past three days, Palestinians have reportedly been killed while waiting for aid. According to Gazan authorities, 32 were killed on Sunday and another three on Monday.
GHF denied the reports that Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid distribution on Sunday, and Israel released footage allegedly showing that Palestinian terrorists, not Israel forces, had opened fire.
