Chaos at Aid Distribution Site in Rafah
At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured after Israeli forces opened fire near a humanitarian aid centre in Rafah, southern Gaza aid centre, local officials reported early Tuesday. Witnesses and medics on the ground described the scene as “total carnage” as tanks, drones, and helicopters fired at crowds seeking food and aid near the al-Alam roundabout.
Witnesses Describe Panic and Gunfire
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that gunfire erupted suddenly around 03:48 AM local time as people approached the area. Survivors said Israeli fire came from multiple directions, including snipers and aerial vehicles, forcing civilians to take cover behind walls. “People, as they were running, began collapsing in front of us,” said Nadeem Zarab, a local resident.
Conflicting Accounts from Israeli Forces and International Observers
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied targeting civilians directly, stating that warning shots were fired at “suspects who deviated from designated routes.” This statement follows similar denials from a Sunday incident where 31 were reportedly killed while seeking aid.
The UN and human rights organisations have condemned the actions. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: “Palestinians face the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access food.”
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Under Fire
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the US and Israel, now runs aid distribution in Gaza. Critics argue the system forces civilians into militarized zones to receive food, abandoning the UN’s earlier approach of community-based distribution. The GHF said Tuesday’s incident occurred “well beyond our secure site” and denied any breach of humanitarian principles.
Casualty Surge and Hospital Response
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received at least 24 bodies and over 37 injured civilians, including women and children. A foreign medic said, “We’re overwhelmed. There’s no space, and the gunshot wounds are severe.” The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) echoed the sentiment, describing a mass casualty influx.
International Reactions and Investigations
UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for “an immediate and independent investigation” into the killings, holding perpetrators accountable. Civil society groups have echoed calls for transparency and the immediate restoration of impartial humanitarian access to Gaza.
Humanitarian Aid as a Weapon?
Under the GHF system, civilians often walk miles and wait overnight in dangerous zones to obtain food. Boxes weigh up to 20kg (44 lbs), and the first-come-first-serve model has incited chaos and desperation. The militarized mechanism has been called “a violation of humanitarian norms” by several UN agencies.
Conclusion: A Humanitarian Flashpoint
With over 54,000 Palestinians killed since Israel’s offensive began in October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry, the Rafah aid centre killings have drawn urgent global scrutiny. As hunger and war converge, the world watches with growing alarm over the humanitarian toll and the politicization of aid in Gaza.