Amid desperate conditions, hospital officials say 25 Palestinians lost their lives while trying to access aid near the Netzarim corridor, an area designated as an Israeli military zone. These victims were reportedly part of a larger group approaching a convoy delivering food supplies from the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Witnesses claim that Israeli forces opened fire in the vicinity, while some individuals were crushed by vehicles amid the chaos. The Israeli military responded by stating that they issued warning shots to deter suspected threats. Further south, six additional Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli gunfire close to a GHF site in Rafah, with the military saying they’re investigating these reports.
The GHF claims to have distributed over 43,000 food parcels in Rafah and central Gaza "without incident," but ongoing violence has plagued aid efforts since the system commenced on May 26. Gaza's health ministry reports 223 fatalities and over 1,800 injuries linked to access issues for aid distribution in just two weeks.
The GHF's strategy, which employs private security contractors, aims to reduce aid theft by Hamas; however, UN officials have condemned this shift, arguing it undermines humanitarian principles and has led to critical hunger levels in Gaza following a significant blockade imposed by Israel.
Since the onset of the conflict after October 7, 2023, when a Hamas-led attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, the situation has escalated dramatically, leading to a staggering 55,104 Palestinian deaths, according to health authorities in Gaza. The need for humanitarian aid in the region is dire, yet the dangers of accessing that aid continue to grow.
Witnesses claim that Israeli forces opened fire in the vicinity, while some individuals were crushed by vehicles amid the chaos. The Israeli military responded by stating that they issued warning shots to deter suspected threats. Further south, six additional Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli gunfire close to a GHF site in Rafah, with the military saying they’re investigating these reports.
The GHF claims to have distributed over 43,000 food parcels in Rafah and central Gaza "without incident," but ongoing violence has plagued aid efforts since the system commenced on May 26. Gaza's health ministry reports 223 fatalities and over 1,800 injuries linked to access issues for aid distribution in just two weeks.
The GHF's strategy, which employs private security contractors, aims to reduce aid theft by Hamas; however, UN officials have condemned this shift, arguing it undermines humanitarian principles and has led to critical hunger levels in Gaza following a significant blockade imposed by Israel.
Since the onset of the conflict after October 7, 2023, when a Hamas-led attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, the situation has escalated dramatically, leading to a staggering 55,104 Palestinian deaths, according to health authorities in Gaza. The need for humanitarian aid in the region is dire, yet the dangers of accessing that aid continue to grow.
