Israeli military kills 23 Palestinians near aid site in Gaza, witnesses and medics say

Israeli Forces Kill 23 Palestinians Near Aid Distribution Site

Israeli forces have killed 23 Palestinians after opening fire on crowds gathered near an aid distribution site, witnesses and medics say.

Tanks and drones fired at thousands of people near a distribution centre in central Gaza run by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the witnesses and medics said.

Israeli Military Response and GHF Denial

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that its troops fired warning shots when people approached and later targeted “several suspects” who continued moving toward the troops. However, GHF denied that any shooting occurred near its aid distribution sites.

Rising Death Toll in Similar Incidents

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops fired warning shots after people gathered nearby. An Israeli aircraft then struck “several suspects” who the IDF said continued walking towards troops. The GHF has denied a shooting occurred near its sites. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in similar incidents since late May

Conflicting Reports: Armed Gunmen and Military Fire

While witnesses largely blame Israeli troops for the shootings, there have also been reports of local armed gunmen firing at the crowds. The true details remain unclear in many incidents.

Hospital Confirms Casualties

A spokesperson from al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat confirmed that they received 23 bodies and treated more than 100 wounded individuals. Disturbing images showed bodies laid out on the hospital floor.

IDF and UN Under Scrutiny

The IDF stated the latest incident is under review. Meanwhile, Unicef criticized the US- and Israel-backed GHF aid system, saying it has worsened the humanitarian crisis due to unclear timings and poor communication, especially when internet service is down.

Unicef Warns of Child Casualties and Aid Confusion

James Elder of Unicef mentioned multiple cases where children and women were injured while seeking food. One young boy reportedly died after being hit by a tank shell. Misinformation and lack of internet have contributed to confusion about aid availability, leading to more casualties.

Ongoing Deaths at Aid Points

On Thursday, at least 12 Palestinians were killed near an aid site. The IDF claimed “suspects” had approached its forces in the Netzarim area. GHF again denied that any incident occurred near its site.

Attack Near Khan Younis Leaves Dozens Dead

Hamas-run civil defence officials say Israel has carried out a wave of deadly air strikes on Gaza in recent days, following a brief lull in air operations that coincided with the escalation between Israel and Iran.

They stated on Thursday that at minimum 77 Palestinians had been slew in such raids, which deeply beset the Sati area in western Gaza City.