Israeli strikes kill 22 in Gaza, including aid seekers; witnesses describe ‘indiscriminate' fire
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Many of the victims were reportedly returning from food aid distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), which operates with US and Israeli backing.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed it received the bodies of 11 people who were shot near a GHF hub, around 3 kilometers from the distribution point. The victims were among a crowd attempting to return home with aid along one of the few accessible routes in the south.
Ten more were killed in an Israeli strike on a United Nations aid warehouse in Gaza City in the north, where the military has intensified its aerial bombardment. A separate death was also reported near a GHF site in Rafah.
Witnesses describe chaos and detentions
'They fired at us indiscriminately,' said Yousef Mahmoud Mokheimar, who was shot in the leg while returning from the aid site in Khan Younis. He described Israeli troops approaching in tanks and vehicles, first firing warning shots before targeting the crowd directly.
He also claimed to have seen soldiers detaining six people, including three children.
Another witness, Monzer Hisham Ismail, said the group was hit by artillery fire as they returned from an 'American aid hub' in eastern Khan Younis.
Over 500 killed in aid distribution chaos
Monday's deaths add to a growing toll from violence linked to aid access in Gaza. More than 500 Palestinians have reportedly died in similar incidents tied to the GHF aid program over the past month, as civilians risk deadly routes for basic supplies amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
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The Israeli military said it is reviewing the reports and reiterated past claims that it fires warning shots to deter those approaching troops or acting suspiciously. It also blamed Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing the group of operating from populated areas.
Israel has pushed for the GHF to replace the existing UN-led aid system, citing concerns over aid diversion by Hamas, claims the UN denies.
Gaza city bombardment intensifies
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed 10 people in a strike on a UN warehouse and escalated across Gaza City and the Jabaliya refugee camp.
Evacuation orders were issued across wide areas Sunday and Monday.
Residents described relentless bombing and destruction of civilian infrastructure. 'The sound of bombing hasn't stopped,' said Mohamed Mahdy, a Gaza City resident forced to flee his home.
Emergency services say large parts of northern Gaza are now inaccessible. Ambulances are struggling to reach those trapped under rubble, said Fares Awad, head of emergency response in the region.
The Israeli military said it had taken steps to notify civilians of upcoming operations targeting Hamas infrastructure, including military command centers.
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