Israel-Gaza: 11 Killed Seeking Aid
The situation in Gaza grows increasingly dire. At least 33 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and strikes, with 11 fatalities occurring while seeking aid, highlighting the perilous state of humanitarian efforts. Israeli forces fired upon crowds gathering for food distribution, according to reports from Gaza’s civil defense agency. The U.N. and other aid organizations are not cooperating with the GHF a U.S.-backed group; over 400 have died as May 26, while attempting to obtain aid. We bring you breaking updates from our newsroom at News Directory 3, including insights into the ongoing conflict and the role of aid. What will role the GHF play in this conflict? Discover what’s next …
The distribution of aid in Gaza is becoming increasingly perilous, with at least 33 Palestinians killed Wednesday by israeli fire and strikes, according to medics and rescue workers. Eleven of the fatalities occurred as people were seeking assistance.
A spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense, run by Hamas, reported that Israeli forces fired upon and shelled thousands gathered on salah al-Din Road, a main thoroughfare, to receive desperately needed food. The Israeli military stated that troops in the Nuseirat area fired warning shots overnight when a group approached them in a threatening manner, but they had no knowledge of any injuries.
The civil defense agency also reported that 19 individuals died in three separate Israeli airstrikes in northern and southern Gaza. Eight of those deaths occurred when a residence in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area was struck.
The Israeli military stated its operations aim to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities within Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is also run by Hamas, at least 140 people died in the past 24 hours. On Tuesday, the ministry reported 51 deaths among those waiting for aid in Khan Younis. The U.N., citing health organizations, placed that death toll at over 60.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli tanks and drones opened fire on crowds near a charity community center and a World food Program warehouse. The Israeli military acknowledged its presence in the area and said the incident is under review.
In another incident Tuesday, the civil defense agency reported seven deaths and multiple injuries on Rashid Street, northwest of Gaza City, among people seeking aid. A doctor at al-Shifa hospital told Reuters that Israeli airstrikes caused the deaths, while gunfire caused the injuries.
Since May 26, nearly 400 people have died while attempting to obtain aid, according to the health ministry. That was when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the U.S. and Israel, opened its first distribution center.
The GHF, employing U.S. private security contractors, intends to replace the U.N. as the primary aid provider to Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. The U.N.and other aid organizations refuse to cooperate, citing violations of humanitarian principles.they also warn of catastrophic hunger levels due to an 11-week Israeli blockade, partially eased a month ago.
The U.S. and Israel claim the GHF system will prevent Hamas from stealing aid, an accusation the group denies.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), condemned the system as ”lame, medieval and lethal,” writing on X that “inviting starving people to their death is a war crime.”
The GHF stated it has distributed 30 million meals across its three distribution centers “without incident” and remains focused on feeding the people of Gaza.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the 9,000 tonnes of food aid dispatched over the past month is a “tiny fraction” of Gaza’s needs. The WFP also noted that the desperation for food is causing large crowds to gather along transport routes, hoping to intercept humanitarian supplies.
COGAT, the Israeli military body, reported that 85 truckloads of aid entered Gaza on Tuesday via the Kerem Shalom and Erez West crossings, with 66 collected. An additional 380 truckloads await collection by the U.N.
The conflict in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. The Gaza health ministry reports at least 55,637 deaths in Gaza as then.