Israeli troops opened fire early Monday on crowds heading toward an aid distribution point in southern Gaza, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, according to health officials and eyewitnesses. The incident occurred about one kilometer from the aid hub operated by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The Israeli military stated it fired warning shots at “several suspects” approaching their forces, denying it prevented access to the closed distribution site. This marks the second consecutive day of violence near the facility, where witnesses reported Israeli fire on Sunday, which killed 31 and injured over 170.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, said it had delivered aid on both days without incident.
The GHF’s new aid distribution system faces rejection from UN agencies and major relief organisations, who argue it violates humanitarian principles and fails Gaza’s 2 million residents. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Sunday’s violence, stating: “It’s unacceptable that Palestinians risk their lives for food,” demanding an independent investigation.
In northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on Jabaliya refugee camp’s residential buildings killed 14, including five women and seven children, according to hospital records. The military claimed targeting “terror sites” while blaming Hamas for civilian casualties due to their urban entrenchment.
Palestinian authorities reported Israeli forces killed a 14-year-old boy in Sinjil village, with the military claiming troops “neutralised” someone throwing hazardous materials.
Aid access controversy
The GHF maintains its operations proceed smoothly, requiring Palestinians to follow designated routes patrolled by Israeli forces. However, UN agencies criticise the system for forcing dangerous journeys near military positions, unlike their neighbourhood-based distributions.
The conflict has claimed over 54,000 Palestinian lives. Stalled negotiations continue over hostage releases amid demands for ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.