Dozens Killed by Israeli Gunfire Near Gaza Aid Sites, Hamas-Run Ministry Reports

At least 32 Palestinians seeking food were killed by Israeli gunfire near two aid distribution points in southern Gaza, close to Khan Younis and Rafah, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Dozens more were injured near sites operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the ministry said.

The GHF denied any incidents occurred at or near their sites, stating that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activity took place hours before the aid centres were set to open. However, an eyewitness told Reuters the gunfire appeared “targeted to kill.” Mohammed Al-Khalidi, who was among those awaiting aid, said tanks advanced and opened fire on the group, claiming, “It wasn’t shots to scare us or organize us; it was shots meant to kill.”

The IDF told the BBC that troops fired warning shots to deter “suspects” approaching them before the aid sites opened. The GHF, which uses private security contractors to distribute aid in Israeli military zones, has been controversial. Israel and the US argue it prevents Hamas from diverting aid, but the UN has refused to cooperate, calling the system unethical and citing no evidence of systematic aid theft by Hamas. The UN human rights office reported 674 killings near GHF’s four sites in southern and central Gaza over the past six weeks, with an additional 201 deaths along UN and other aid convoy routes. The GHF disputes these figures, accusing the UN of relying on “false and misleading” data from Gaza’s health ministry, though the ministry’s casualty counts are widely regarded as reliable. The UN also highlighted a doubling of acutely malnourished children since Israel began restricting food imports in March. Despite the GHF’s efforts, significant amounts of aid, including baby formula, remain blocked at the border. A field hospital director reported an influx of patients suffering from severe exhaustion, emaciation, and acute malnutrition, with 69 children having died from malnutrition amid the worsening humanitarian crisis, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run media office. On Friday, US President Donald Trump suggested a ceasefire deal was close, but a Palestinian official told the BBC that talks remain stalled, with Israel’s latest troop withdrawal proposal unacceptable to Hamas. The ongoing violence, coupled with restricted aid access, continues to exacerbate Gaza’s humanitarian emergency, with nearly daily reports of deaths during aid distribution.