At least 30 people were killed and 175 others wounded at aid distribution sites in central and southern Gaza on Sunday, after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on civilians waiting for humanitarian supplies. The incident has further fuelled outrage over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.
According to a local hospital authority affiliated with the Red Cross, the fatalities occurred during distribution operations led by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. While the hospital attributed the deaths to Israeli fire, it did not independently confirm who had opened fire.
Journalists present at the scene reported seeing dozens of people being rushed into emergency wards, many suffering from gunshot wounds. Several eyewitnesses claimed Israeli troops had opened fire near the distribution sites, where large crowds had gathered in anticipation of food and medical supplies.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, however, denied any such violence at its centres. In a statement issued earlier on Sunday, it maintained that “16 truckloads of aid were distributed without incident” and described reports of casualties and chaos as “false reporting.”
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This version of events was swiftly challenged by international media outlets, which accused the Foundation of attempting to “downplay the incidents related to violence taking place during the aid distribution” in the Israeli-occupied enclave.
The Israeli military has acknowledged firing “warning shots” in some areas, though it stopped short of confirming any direct engagement with civilians. The Foundation also stated that its private security contractors deployed at the scene did not open fire.
Sunday’s deadly incident follows earlier violence at aid centres. Local health officials had already confirmed six deaths and over 50 injuries prior to the latest episode.
Condemnation has come from across the globe, with France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and 21 other nations issuing a joint statement describing the ongoing blockade and violence in Gaza as “shameful and unacceptable.”
Rights groups and international legal experts have reiterated that obstructing humanitarian aid, particularly when it affects persecuted and vulnerable populations, constitutes a clear breach of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Despite such criticism, the Israeli government has rejected allegations of collective punishment, accusing the international community of “emboldening Hamas and anti-Semitism.” Critics argue that Israel is invoking accusations of anti-Semitism as a rhetorical shield to deflect legitimate scrutiny over its military actions in Gaza.
Human rights observers have said that Israel's conduct, particularly the use of starvation and the repeated shelling of civilian infrastructure, may bear indicators of genocidal intent.
As pressure mounts internationally, diplomatic talks over a potential ceasefire remain deadlocked. Hamas is reportedly seeking changes to a US-brokered ceasefire plan. However, Steve Witkoff, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, described the group's response as “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, the scale of human loss in Gaza continues to rise. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 54,381 Palestinians have been killed, with 124,054 others wounded since the war began. The Gaza Government Media Office has placed the death toll even higher, estimating over 61,700 fatalities, including those presumed dead under the rubble.
The conflict, which erupted after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, claimed 1,139 Israeli lives and led to more than 200 individuals being taken captive.
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