At least 31 killed, 170 injured in Gaza as crowds head for aid; witnesses blame Israeli fire

Rafah: At least 31 people were killed and more than 170 wounded on Sunday as they made their way to receive humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and multiple eyewitnesses.

Witnesses claimed that Israeli forces opened fire on crowds around a kilometre from an aid distribution site run by an Israeli-backed foundation.

The Israeli army said in a brief statement that it was "currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site," adding that the matter was still under review.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which manages the aid operations, stated that 16 truckloads of assistance were distributed "without incident" early on Sunday.

The organisation dismissed what it referred to as "false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos."

It has consistently denied previous accounts of disorder and gunfire around its sites, which are located in Israeli military zones that are largely inaccessible to independent observers.

Eyewitness accounts of gunfire and chaos

Despite the foundation's statement, witnesses described a harrowing scene. Thousands of people had gathered hours before dawn to receive aid.

As the crowd approached the distribution area, Israeli forces reportedly ordered them to disperse and return later. When the crowd reached the Flag Roundabout, approximately one kilometre away, at around 3 am, witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire.

"There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones," said Amr Abu Teiba, who was among the crowd.

He reported seeing at least ten bodies with gunshot wounds and several others injured, including women. Carts were used to carry the dead and wounded to a nearby field hospital. "The scene was horrible," he added.

Dr Marwan al-Hams, a health ministry official at Nasser Hospital, stated that most casualties sustained injuries to the upper body, including the head, neck and chest. Twenty-four individuals were being treated in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, said the military fired from about 300 metres away. He saw several people with gunshot wounds and recalled one young man who died at the scene. "We weren’t able to help him," he said.

Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, claimed that his cousin and a woman were shot and killed while heading towards the distribution site. He said his cousin was hit in the chest and died instantly. His brother-in-law was also among the wounded.

Field hospital overwhelmed

Officials at the field hospital, speaking anonymously, confirmed at least 21 fatalities and 175 injuries, without specifying who was responsible for the shooting.

The Health Ministry later updated the toll to 31 dead and 170 wounded. Some people returned from the aid distribution site carrying boxes, while others returned empty-handed.

Controversy surrounding aid delivery system

The aid system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and backed by Israel has faced significant criticism. UN agencies and major humanitarian organisations have refused to collaborate with the initiative, arguing it breaches humanitarian principles. They claim it enables Israel to control who receives aid and forces civilians to relocate to designated distribution sites, causing further displacement.

The UN has struggled to deliver assistance to Gaza, even after Israel marginally relaxed its total blockade last month. Aid agencies cite Israeli restrictions, lawlessness and widespread looting as major barriers to effective aid delivery in the territory, home to around 2 million people.

Conflict background and rising death toll

The conflict began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. About a third of the hostages are believed to remain alive.

In response, Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 people, primarily women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The offensive has displaced around 90% of Gaza's population and left the area almost entirely dependent on international aid.

On Sunday, Israel reported the killing of a militant commander accused of orchestrating an earlier attack that resulted in the deaths of 21 soldiers, one of the deadliest incidents for the military during the 19-month conflict. The soldiers had been laying explosives when a rocket-propelled grenade detonated them.

AP inputs