Gaza’s health ministry and have reported that Israeli fire killed at least Palestinians as they attempted to collect aid near a distribution center in Rafah.
This is the third deadly incident in the vicinity of the Rafah aid hub in three days. The hub is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), an organization backed by Israel and the U.S. that was established last month to replace U.N. agencies and other aid organizations, and has been the subject of controversy.
The Israel Defense Forces stated that they are “aware of reports regarding casualties, and the details of the incident are being looked into.”
According to the IDF, “Troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes. The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects.”
The U.N. and other aid agencies have criticized the new aid distribution system, arguing that it fails to address the growing hunger crisis in Gaza and enables Israel to use aid as a weapon.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk stated, “Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel’s militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism.”
Türk called for a “prompt and impartial investigation,” adding that “Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime.”
Israel claims the new aid system prevents , but has not provided evidence of any systematic diversion of supplies.
Jake Wood, head of GHF, said on May 25 that it would be unable to operate in a manner that met “humanitarian principles.” GHF commenced operations the following day.
Reports indicate that on May 27, at least one Palestinian was killed and 48 others wounded as desperate crowds struggled to obtain aid at the new GHF hub in Rafah.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, on Sunday, June 1, at least 31 Palestinians died and nearly were injured at the GHF distribution site in Rafah. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that its field hospital in Rafah received a “mass casualty influx,” with the majority of patients suffering from shrapnel and gunshot wounds.
ICRC spokesperson Hisham Mhanna stated, “Once again, desperate hungry civilians get killed & injured while trying to reach aid. It should be delivered to them safely & with dignity.”
The IDF asserted that it “did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false.”
Gaza’s health ministry reported that on Monday, June 2, at least were killed by Israeli fire near a GHF aid hub in Rafah. The IDF said that “warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward” troops approximately 0.6 miles from the site.
The new GHF aid distribution system was implemented following a two-month blockade by Israel, during which essential food and medical supplies decreased. Food security experts warned of a “critical risk of famine.”
The new aid distribution model was introduced after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would ease the blockade and allow a “basic” amount of food into Gaza. These comments were made shortly after Israel initiated a significant ground offensive.
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