At least 34 Palestinians lost their lives near food distribution centers in Gaza, according to the health ministry. This tragic event occurred early on Monday as many people were trying to reach a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) center in Rafah. Witnesses reported that Israeli troops opened fire to control the large crowd.
The health ministry stated that 33 individuals were killed near the GHF center, while one person died en route to an aid hub in central Gaza. This marks the highest daily death toll from shootings since the opening of Israeli and US-backed aid centers in May. Thousands of Palestinians have been trying to access these centers, which are located in areas controlled by the Israeli military.
In addition to the deaths at the distribution centers, four other Palestinians were reported killed in separate incidents elsewhere in Gaza. The ministry claims that hundreds have been killed and many more injured since the GHF centers began operations.
Heba Jouda and Mohamed Abed, two Palestinians present at the scene, described the chaos as Israeli troops began firing around 4 a.m. Jouda shared her fear, saying, "Fire was coming from everywhere… It’s getting worse day by day." The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that their field hospital treated around 200 injured individuals on the same day, marking it as their highest mass casualty event yet.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented on this latest incident but previously stated that their troops fired warning shots at what they labeled as suspects approaching their positions near the GHF sites. A spokesperson for the GHF said none of the incidents occurred at their sites or during operating hours, suggesting that the violence involved people moving during restricted times or attempting to take shortcuts.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with many people struggling to access essential aid amid ongoing violence. As the international community watches closely, calls for restraint have come from various leaders, including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who urged Israel to exercise caution in its military actions. The conflict continues to raise concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.