According to Palestinian health authorities and eyewitnesses, Israeli troops opened fire on individuals heading towards an aid distribution center on Tuesday, resulting in at least 27 fatalities. This marks the third similar event within three consecutive days. The military claims they discharged their weapons near several suspected individuals who deviated from the approved path, moved closer to their positions, and disregarded warning shots.
The frequent daily shootings have followed an initiative backed by both Israel and the U.S., which set up assistance distribution centers within Israeli military areas. They claim this approach aims to bypass Hamas control. However, the United Nations opposes this new method, arguing that it fails to tackle Gaza’s worsening food shortage and enables Israel to potentially wield humanitarian aid as a political tool.
The Israeli army stated they were investigating claims of casualties on Tuesday. Earlier, they mentioned firing warning shots at individuals suspected of approaching their personnel on both Sunday and Monday; meanwhile, medical authorities and eyewitnesses reported that 34 people lost their lives during those days. The military refutes allegations of targeting civilians or hindering access to assistance areas.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which manages these locations, asserts that they have experienced no violent incidents. They admitted on Tuesday that the Israeli military is looking into potential civilian injuries after individuals moved past the specified safe passage route and entered a restricted military zone. This occurred in an area significantly outside their protected distribution center.
'In either case, our demise is inevitable.'
All the shooting incidents took place at the Flag Roundabout, approximately one kilometer (1,000 yards) away from one of the GHF's distribution points in what was once a densely populated but now largely abandoned southern city called Rafah. This region is entirely within an Israeli military zone, restricting journalist entry except through officially sanctioned embedments with the army.
According to Zaher al-Waheidi, who leads the Gaza Health Ministry’s records division, at least 27 individuals lost their lives early Tuesday.
A representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Hisham Mhanna, stated that their field hospital in Rafah treated 184 injured individuals; among them, 19 were pronounced deceased upon arrival and another eight succumbed to their injuries subsequently. Out of these 27 fatalities, they were transported to Nasser Hospital located in Khan Younis City.
According to Mohammed Saqr, who leads the nursing staff at Nasser Hospital, out of those who died, there were three children and two women. Hospital Director Atef al-Hout mentioned that the majority of the victims had been injured by gunshots.
Yasser Abu Lubda, a 50-year-old displaced Palestinian from Rafah, mentioned that the gunfire began approximately at 4 a.m. near the Flag Roundabout in the city, roughly one kilometer (1,000 yards) distant from where aid was being distributed. He recounted witnessing multiple individuals either dead or injured as a result.
A woman named Neima al-Aaraj from Khan Younis provided a comparable description.
She mentioned that numerous people were killed and injured," stating that the gunfire from Israeli troops was "unrestricted.
She mentioned that she succeeded in reaching the hub yet came back without anything. "It offered no assistance," she stated. "Following the sacrifices of those who were injured or gave their lives, I have decided not to go back again," she added. "In either scenario, our fate would be death."
Another eyewitness, Rasha al-Nahal, stated, “Gunfire erupted from every direction.” According to her account, she tallied over a dozen fatalities and numerous injured individuals scattered across the roadway. Additionally, upon reaching the supply center, she discovered an absence of assistance. Furthermore, she mentioned that Israeli forces shot at them while they were heading back.
A correspondent from The Associated Press reached the Red Cross field hospital near 6 a.m. and observed injured individuals being transported to different hospitals via ambulances.
Outdoors, individuals were walking past, returning from the assistance center, largely without anything, whereas soiled flour sacks marked with blood were scattered on the pavement.
Three Israeli troops died in northern Gaza
On Tuesday, the Israeli military reported that three of their soldiers had been killed in the Gaza Strip. This incident appears to be the most lethal attack on Israeli forces since they terminated a ceasefire with Hamas back in March.
The military stated that the three soldiers, who were all in their early 20s, died amid fighting in northern Gaza on Monday, offering no further specifics. According to Israeli media reports, they perished due to an explosion in the Jabaliya region.
In March, Israel terminated the ceasefire when Hamas declined to modify the terms for quicker release of hostages. Since then, Israeli attacks have reportedly resulted in thousands of Palestinian casualties, as stated by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
In the assault on October 7, 2023, Hamas-affiliated fighters claimed approximately 1,200 lives, primarily those of civilians, and captured 251 individuals as captives. As of now, they continue to hold onto 58 captives, with around one-third presumed to be surviving, following the release of most others through ceasefire accords or various arrangements.
Israel's military operation has resulted in more than 54,000 Palestinian fatalities, primarily involving women and children, claims the Gaza Health Ministry. However, this figure doesn’t differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. Despite being overseen by healthcare specialists, the ministry operates under the jurisdiction of the Hamas-led administration. Various United Nations bodies and impartial analysts consider these statistics credible; nonetheless, Israeli authorities have contested them.
Israel claims it has eliminated approximately 20,000 militants but offers no proof.
Approximately 860 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives since the assault on October 7, with over 400 of those casualties occurring during the battles within Gaza.
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