At least 32 Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire near Gaza aid sites, say reports
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched operations in May.
The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN -led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation.
While the GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs.
GHF's four sites are in military-controlled zones. Israel's army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, said on Saturday it had fired warning shots near Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance.
It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. The GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites, adding: 'We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.'
Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 3km (2 miles) from a GHF aid distribution centre near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Mahmoud Mokeimar said he was walking with a large number of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, then opened fire.
'The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,' he said. He said he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, said troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5am and 6am.
'They encircled us and started firing directly at us,' Mr Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground.
Sanaa al-Jaberi said there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. 'Is this food or death? Why? They don't talk with us, they only shoot us,' she said, and showed off her empty bag.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said.
Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser's nursing department, said it received 70 wounded people. He said that most people were shot in the head and chest.
'The situation is difficult and tragic,' he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor.
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The Guardian
15 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The time for Australia to recognise the state of Palestine is right now
No one should underestimate the power of one image to move the minds of nations. Just like the image of nine-year-old South Vietnamese girl Pham Thi Kim Phúc, running naked on a road, screaming as her back burned from napalm dropped during an attack by the South Vietnamese air force. That moment was captured by photographer Nick Ut. The New York Times debated running the photo due to its nudity. They ran it on their front page the next day in edited form. It became powerfully attached to the Vietnam war and rippled through global opinion. The memory of this image bolted to my mind's forefront when I saw last week the images of children starving in Gaza plastered across almost every media outlet in the world, including conservative UK outlet the Daily Express, which featured a staggering front page with a gaunt Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq – a one-year-old so starved, he now weighs the same as a three-month-old baby. 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Sky News
35 minutes ago
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PM to hold talks with Trump today - but will have to walk a fine diplomatic line
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BBC News
an hour ago
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