The Israeli military killed at least 50 Palestinians, most of them near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Palestinians were waiting for UN and commercial aid trucks near an aid distribution site in Khan Younis, run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Deadly Shooting
According to the latest data released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Israeli troops shot dead at least 51 people and injured more than 200 others, 20 of them in a critical condition, while they were waiting for aid supplies in Khan Younis.
The Israeli military have repeatedly targeted Palestinians heading to aid distribution sites run by the GHF, killing dozens and wounding hundreds more, reported the Associated Press (AP) citing local witnesses.
While the Israeli military has not commented on the recent incident, it acknowledged in previous incidents firing shots at people who did not adhere to designated access routes.
In a statement on Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry put the number of those killed while trying to reach aid sites at 338 people, with 2,831 others wounded since the GHF started operation in the enclave.
GHF Operations
The GHF is an Israeli and US-backed organization which operates a new aid distribution mechanism. It involves establishing a number of distribution hubs in southern and central Gaza, where Palestinian civilians will head once a week to receive one aid package per family. The GHF cooperates with private American contractors to secure aid trucks until their arrival at the distribution sites.
The organization has come under heavy criticism from the UN and other humanitarian organizations, which refused to cooperate with the organization amid fears that its distribution model will force the displacement of Palestinians.
Several shooting incidents took place in the vicinity of the GHF’s operations, where the Israeli military opened fire at Palestinians while they were trying to reach the aid distribution sites, leading the organization to temporarily pause its operations multiple times.
UN Criticism
On Monday, the head of the UN Palestinian refugees agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, warned that the world’s attention is shifting to the Iran-Israel conflict while the Israeli crimes continue in Gaza.
“Scores of people have been killed & injured in the past days including of starving people trying to get some food from a lethal distribution system,” he wrote on X. “Restrictions on bringing in aid from the UN including UNRWA continue despite an abundance of assistance ready to be moved into Gaza. In addition, severe shortages of fuel are now hampering the delivery of critical services especially health & water,” he added.
Moreover, the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, accused Israel of weaponizing food, urging for an immediate ceasefire to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza. In an address to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Turk said: “Israel has weaponized food and blocked lifesaving aid. I urge immediate, impartial investigations into deadly attacks on desperate civilians trying to reach food distribution centers.”
Turk also expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for an immediate ceasefire. “Only an immediate ceasefire leading to a two-state solution, with Gaza as an integral part of a Palestinian State, can offer sustainable peace,” he said.
Israeli Blockade
Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entry into Gaza on March 2, 2025. Although it has slightly loosened its blockade in mid-May under mounting international pressure, UN officials say that restrictions imposed by the Israeli military and widespread looting make it hard to deliver the much-needed aid that Israel has allowed to enter.
In early June, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the people of Gaza will likely experience acute food insecurity by September, with around 500,000 people facing extreme food deprivation, leading to malnutrition and starvation.
The war in Gaza has been raging since October 2023, following Hamas’ attack on Israel. The Israeli military campaign has so far claimed the lives of more than 55,400 Palestinians and injured over 128,000, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza.
