Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 38 Palestinians killed Monday in shootings near Israeli-controlled food distribution centres in the southern Gaza Strip, marking the deadliest incident since recurring clashes began around these aid hubs. The violence occurred as thousands of desperate Palestinians navigated Israeli military checkpoints to reach centres operated by the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Eyewitnesses described to The Associated Press how Israeli forces opened fire at around 4am at Flag Roundabout near Rafah, a location hundreds of meters from the GHF centre that has become a recurring flashpoint. While Israel maintains troops only fire warning shots at perceived threats, the latest bloodshed adds to mounting casualties, with hundreds killed and wounded since these distribution points opened last month.
The tragedy highlights the deepening humanitarian crisis, with UN agencies rejecting the GHF system as inadequate and accusing Israel of militarising aid, using it as a weapon of war. Though Israel and the US defend the arrangement as necessary to prevent Hamas “siphoning off” supplies, but aid organisations have confirmed that there exists no evidence of Hamas aid theft.
This latest attack on Palestinians takes place as Gaza’s 2 million residents face imminent famine due to the Israel military’s illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Desperately hungry crowds continue to die in a deadly cycle of violence, with Monday’s pre-dawn shooting representing its most lethal escalation yet.