Israeli Fire Kills 10 Near US Aid Site in Gaza Amid Talks

At least 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire near a US-backed aid distribution site in southern Gaza on Sunday. The attack happened just after the United States rejected a ceasefire proposal from Hamas. More than 100 people were wounded when Israeli vehicles opened fire on a crowd of thousands near the aid site west of Rafah. The injured were taken to hospitals in the area.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening. After nearly 20 months of fighting, the United Nations warns that the population faces famine. Aid deliveries have been limited despite Israel partially lifting a strict blockade that lasted over two months. The UN also reported theft and looting of aid trucks and warehouses last month.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started distributing food in late May, claiming to have delivered over two million meals. However, major aid groups and the UN have refused to work with this group, saying it breaks humanitarian rules and serves Israeli military interests. Hamas described the aid sites as dangerous for civilians and blamed Israeli forces for the recent killings.

Efforts to reach a ceasefire remain blocked. Hamas responded to a US-backed ceasefire offer, but Washington said the response was unacceptable. Hamas insisted on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Israel rejects. Israel warned Hamas to accept the deal and release hostages or face destruction.

The US envoy said the only way to secure a ceasefire is for Hamas to accept the proposed framework. Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, with 34 reported dead. Since March 18, over 4,100 people have died in Gaza as Israel resumed its military operations. The overall death toll in the conflict now exceeds 54,000, mostly civilians. Hamas’s attack on Israel resulted in more than 1,200 deaths, mainly civilians.