Israeli Attack On Palestinians Gathering For Aid Kills At Least 32; Witness Describes Scene As 'Massacre'
The report states that most deaths occurred approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of an aid distribution point operated by the Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza, south of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, attributed the incident to "Israeli gunfire."
Citing Israel's Haaretz newspaper, The Guardian reported that medical sources and eyewitnesses at the scene revealed many of the wounded were in critical condition, and numerous casualties were children and adolescents. Dr. Atef, director of Nasser Hospital, described the situation as causing "unprecedented casualties within a very short period," warning that the actual death toll could be higher. "We are unable to provide adequate medical treatment due to the lack of equipment, medicine, and personnel," Dr. Atef stated.
Regarding these reports, the article noted that the Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza issued a statement saying no incident had occurred at or near its distribution point. It stated the reported Israeli shooting took place far from its distribution point and happened several hours before its point was scheduled to open. "We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to come to our distribution points during the night or early morning hours," the organization said.
The report said the Israeli military claimed that after a group of "suspects" approached troops and ignored warnings to maintain distance, Israeli forces "fired warning shots" near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The military added that the incident occurred at night when the distribution point was closed and that it is investigating the reports of casualties.
On July 15th, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that between May 27th and July 13th, at least 875 people in the Gaza Strip had been killed while heading to collect aid. Among these, 674 died near distribution points operated by the Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza (established with US and Israeli support), and another 201 were killed near the routes of aid convoys operated by the UN or its partners. On the same day, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, called on the international community to take action to stop the "genocide" in Gaza.
According to the latest data from the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli military operations have killed over 58,000 people in Gaza since the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023.
