Gaza: Over 50 Palestinians Killed While Awaiting Humanitarian Aid

A mass casualty incident occurred in southern Gaza on Tuesday when Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians gathered near an aid distribution site in Khan Younis. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry and the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency, at least 51 individuals were killed and more than 200 others sustained injuries while waiting for food assistance.

Eyewitness accounts and emergency responders on the ground described the event as a “massacre,” asserting that Israeli drones and tanks launched attacks on the densely packed crowd. The targeted area, a junction near the town of Bani Suheila, has seen intense Israeli military operations in recent weeks. Many of those gathered were hoping to receive flour and other staples from a World Food Programme (WFP) distribution center, which also hosts a community kitchen.

Medical Services Overwhelmed

The influx of casualties severely strained the already limited resources of Nasser Hospital, the principal functioning medical facility in the region. Medical staff reported that overcrowding forced many of the wounded to be treated on the floor, while others lay unattended due to shortages in personnel, equipment, and medicine.

Israeli Military Response

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a preliminary statement acknowledging reports of injuries caused by military fire. The IDF stated that a crowd had gathered near a humanitarian aid truck that had become immobilized in proximity to active IDF operations. It further indicated that the incident is under internal review. The military also noted the possibility of crowd movements being interpreted as a threat by troops operating in the area.

However, multiple Palestinian witnesses, including journalists, recounted a sequence of attacks beginning with drone-fired missiles, followed by tank shelling. These explosive incidents reportedly preceded a barrage of live fire directed at civilians attempting to flee. The Associated Press reported that an airstrike on a nearby residence may have preceded the attack on the gathering.

International Condemnation and Calls for Investigation

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned Israel’s conduct, accusing the state of "weaponizing food" and urging an independent investigation into repeated lethal incidents at aid distribution points. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Türk stated that "Israel's means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza."

This incident marks one of the deadliest of a series of attacks on civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza. Witnesses and health officials allege that similar shootings have occurred on a near-daily basis since March, when a new, controversial aid distribution system—backed by Israel and the United States—was implemented. That system, operated by a private contractor called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, was intended to bypass Hamas and ensure that aid reaches civilians directly. However, it has become a focal point for violence and logistical dysfunction.

Civilian Toll and Grief

Survivors expressed anguish and disbelief at the scale of the violence. Mohammed Abu Qeshfa, who was at the scene, said he narrowly escaped death amid heavy shelling and gunfire. “I survived by a miracle,” he said.

Samaher Meqdad, searching for family members at the hospital, cried out in despair: “We don’t want flour. We don’t want food. We don’t want anything. Why did they fire at the young people? Why? Aren’t we human beings?”

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The incident adds to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed and tens of thousands more injured since the Israeli military campaign began following Hamas' October 2023 attacks. The UN and numerous humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that the civilian population is at risk of famine, compounded by relentless aerial bombardment, ground offensives, and systematic restrictions on aid delivery.

Amid intensifying scrutiny, human rights groups and several UN member states are demanding accountability and urgent action to protect civilians and ensure the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Source- Al Jazeera, BBC