Israeli Forces Kill 27 Palestinians Near Gaza Aid Site

Israeli forces killed at least 27 Palestinians near an aid distribution site in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials and witnesses. The incident occurred in the southern city of Rafah, where people were heading toward the aid site. The Israeli military said it fired near a few individuals who left a designated safe route, approached soldiers, and ignored warning shots. This is the third such deadly shooting in three days.

The shootings happened after an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation set up aid distribution points inside Israeli military zones. This system aims to bypass Hamas, but the United Nations has rejected it, saying it does not solve Gaza’s growing hunger crisis and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates the sites, said there has been no violence at the distribution locations themselves. They added the military is investigating if civilians were hurt after moving beyond a safe corridor into restricted military zones.

The shootings took place near the Flag Roundabout, about one kilometer from the Rafah distribution site, in an area controlled by the Israeli military. Journalists have very limited access to this zone unless approved by the army. Several people witnessed the shooting early Tuesday morning and saw multiple casualties. When some survivors reached the aid site, they found the food supplies had already run out. Some had to collect food from the ground, which had been trampled by others.

The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed 27 people were killed on Tuesday. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported treating 184 wounded at its field hospital in Rafah. Among those killed were three children and two women. Most injuries were from gunfire. The United Nations has condemned the shootings and expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The U.N. said Palestinians face grim choices between starvation and risking death while trying to access limited food supplies through Israel’s controlled aid system.

Gaza’s food production has been severely damaged by ongoing Israeli military actions. The territory, home to roughly two million people, relies almost entirely on international aid. During a ceasefire earlier this year, about 600 aid trucks entered Gaza daily. However, current restrictions have greatly reduced the flow of aid.

Israel defends its restrictions and the new aid system as necessary to prevent Hamas from stealing supplies. The United Nations and other observers, however, report no clear evidence of systematic aid diversion by Hamas. Aid deliveries are hindered by Israeli controls, breakdowns in law and order, and looting.

The violence in Gaza is part of a broader conflict. On Monday, three Israeli soldiers were killed in northern Gaza during combat, the deadliest Israeli military loss since March. Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas after negotiations stalled over hostage releases. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed thousands of Palestinians. Gaza has faced a blockade on food and other imports for more than two months, leading to international warnings about famine before some restrictions were eased in May.

Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel in an October 2023 attack and currently hold 58 hostages. Israeli military losses since then include over 860 soldiers killed. The recent killings near Gaza aid sites highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the dangerous conditions civilians face. They must choose between starvation or risking their lives to access scarce food supplies.