Nearly 600 Palestinians Shot at Aid Points in Gaza
Since late May 2025, Palestinian officials report that nearly 600 civilians have been shot – many fatally – while attempting to collect humanitarian aid at distribution points in Gaza, operated by the Israel- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This article examines the full scope of the crisis, the background of the new aid mechanism, individual testimonies, legal concerns, and the growing international outcry.
🔻 Overview of the Death Toll
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry and Government Media Office, at least 583 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,200 injured by gunfire when approaching aid delivery centers run by GHF from May 27 to late June 2025 :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. Other sources, such as Al Jazeera, reported "600 Palestinians" shot and wounded in just one month :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
An official summary from Al Jazeera further states:
In just one month, 600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,200 wounded by Israeli fire near GHF aid distribution sites. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
On individual days, death tolls spiked:
- Rafah, early June: 27 killed and 180+ wounded in one day :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
- June 1 in Rafah and Gaza City: at least 32 killed, 200+ injured :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
- Mid-June: 8 more killed near Rafah distribution sites :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
- June 14 in central/northern Gaza: 27 killed, dozens wounded :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
🚧 What Is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?
GHF began operations on May 27, 2025, as a replacement for the previous UN-led system of approximately 400 distribution points. Instead, GHF opened just four "mega-sites," each heavily guarded – with operations outside the traditional UN framework :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
Rations are minimal, providing around 1,750 calories per person – falling short of the UN-recommended 2,100 calories, and lacking essentials like water, fuel, bedding, or medicine :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}. Their irregular schedule exacerbates chaos and crowding.
These "mega-sites," reportedly controlled with private contractors and IDF oversight, have been widely condemned. GHF’s executive director resigned before distribution began, warning that the model could not meet humanitarian standards :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
🔫 Evidence of Deliberate Use of Force
Eyewitness & Soldier Testimonies
Haaretz quoted unnamed IDF soldiers claiming they received orders to shoot civilians to "keep them away from distribution centers," even if nobody posed any threat :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
One soldier reportedly said: “We fired machine‑guns from tanks and threw grenades… It’s a killing field.” :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
On-the-Ground Interpretations
Multiple reports document indiscriminate firing:
- June 1: soldiers fired on civilians queuing before gates opened; gunshots from tanks and drones :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
- June 14: military vehicles, drones, and artillery fired on crowds in central/northern Gaza :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
- Mid-June: fresh shootings near Rafah, killing 8 civilians :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
💔 Human Stories & Testimony
“My brother went to receive aid… one of them was killed, my brother was shot in the back… no ambulances can reach the area… we saw limbs missing, decapitations…” – Yarin Abu al-Naja describing obtaining aid in Rafah :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
“We walk about 2 km… then wait… when tanks move back, we run… you don’t know if you’ll get food or be killed.” – Mustafa Nabil Abu Eid, father of five :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
“Khalil, get up. Your son Ubaida is waiting… We don’t want food – we want you.” – Shireen, whose husband Khalil was killed at Rafah :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
📉 Humanitarian Impact & Legal Concerns
Gaza’s entire population of 2 million faces acute food insecurity. The UN IPC warns that nearly all residents are at risk, with northern governorates greatly affected :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}. UNICEF reported 5,119 malnourished children in May alone – a dramatic rise :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
International aid groups have condemned the GHF-based system. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the initiative “inherently unsafe” and responsible for civilian deaths :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}. Médecins Sans Frontières labeled it “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid” :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs affirmed that deliberate attacks on civilians or aid distribution constitute war crimes :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
⚖️ IDF & Israeli Government Response
Amid rising pressure, the IDF’s Military Advocate General opened investigations into possible war crimes, following reports of orders to fire on civilians at aid sites :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
However, high-ranking officials including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz rejected claims of intentional targeting. They denounced Haaretz reporting as defamatory, while reiterating IDF directives prohibit deliberate civilian attacks :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
The Israeli military stated that troops were ordered to fire only warning shots when crowds crossed designated safe corridors, and any deviation from policy “would be investigated” :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}.
🌍 International and Diplomatic Reaction
Human rights and legal experts are calling for accountability. The American Center for Constitutional Rights suggests GHF may be complicit in war crimes :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}. UN agencies, NGOs, and diplomats demand transparency and a return to UN-led distribution.
While discussions around a U.S.-backed ceasefire continue, urgency grows over civilian safety during aid delivery :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}. Despite Israel's claim of coordinating the distribution and allowing aid, conditions at distribution zones remain deadly :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}.
🛑 Conclusions & Path Forward
The near-600 deaths of Palestinians – many of them women, children, and the disabled – at aid points over a single month highlight a disaster unfolding under a humanitarian façade. Under international humanitarian law, civilians collecting food must be protected. The widespread testimonies of deliberate shooting and confessions from soldiers indicate possible command-level responsibility.
To avoid further catastrophe, the following steps are urgently necessary:
- IMMEDIATE HALT to armed operations around aid points, especially before opening and after closing, to protect civilians.
- RESTORE UN SYSTEM: Reinstate UN-led distribution with transparent oversight to minimize crowding and violence.
- TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATIONS: IDF must ensure independent and thorough investigations, with accountability for violations.
- INTERNATIONAL MONITORING: Deploy UN/OHCHR observers to aid hubs to document incidents in real-time.
- DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE: Leverage international pressure on all involved parties to prioritize civilian lives.
In Gaza, hunger now comes with deadly risk. As one grieving mother said:
“I told him: Daddy will come back soon… But he did nothing wrong. They killed him like his life meant nothing.” :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
The world must respond—not just with food, but also with protection. Turning aid delivery into killing sites is not just unacceptable—it may cross the line into atrocity.
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