Tragic Day: Over 31 Palestinians Dead as Israeli Forces Clash Near Gaza Aid Distribution Center, Report Health Workers | CNN

At least 31 Palestinians died, and many more were hurt at an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Chaos erupted while people were trying to get food aid. Witnesses mentioned that some security personnel fired shots during the incident.

The health ministry indicated that many of the injured, more than 200, were seriously hurt. Tragically, all fatalities reportedly occurred from gunfire to the head or chest.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded, claiming they were not aware of injuries caused by their fire and that an investigation was underway. They also stated that their forces did not take any casualties.

A paramedic from the Palestine Red Crescent Society noted that crowds had gathered to receive food when the gunfire started. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the site, insisted there was no gunfire at the distribution center.

The GHF is backed by the US and Israel. It was set up to address accusations that Hamas was misappropriating aid in Gaza. However, there has been no solid evidence to support these claims, and humanitarian organizations argue that no such wrongdoing has been proven.

International aid groups, including UNRWA, criticized the GHF’s aid processes. They pointed out that the GHF does not adhere to standard humanitarian practices like checking IDs or maintaining a registry of families in need.

The criticism has intensified following recent chaos when many starving Palestinians flocked to new food distribution sites. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported that 11 people have died and numerous others injured since these sites opened. Yet, the GHF reported no injuries or deaths during their operations.

Despite the turmoil, the GHF has ambitious plans for the future. They claim to have already delivered over 4.7 million meals in just six days, with plans to open more sites across Gaza soon. They distributed 16 truckloads of food on one day alone, providing 887,000 meals that morning.

However, the accuracy of these claims is being questioned on the ground. The GHF stated the aid distribution occurred “without incident” and dismissed rumors from Hamas suggesting otherwise.

These events reveal a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Ongoing tensions and a lack of well-coordinated aid efforts complicate the situation. Many experts stress the critical need for transparency and adherence to humanitarian principles to ensure that aid reaches those in desperate need.

This situation continues to develop, highlighting not only the challenges of aid distribution but also the dire circumstances faced by many in Gaza today.



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