In a devastating turn of events, at least 31 Palestinians lost their lives on Sunday near an aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to local health authorities. The incident occurred at a site managed by the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has been under scrutiny for its operations in the region.
Eyewitnesses and medical personnel reported that Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd gathering to receive humanitarian aid. Ambulances rushed the wounded to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, with paramedics describing the scene as “tragic.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the recovery of 23 bodies and the treatment of 23 injured individuals at the Rafah site. Additionally, 14 more injuries were reported near another aid distribution center in central Gaza.
The Israeli military stated it is investigating the reports but claimed no knowledge of injuries resulting from its operations. GHF denied any casualties at their Rafah site, accusing Hamas of fabricating the reports. However, the Hamas-run Gaza government condemned the incident, asserting that Israel is turning aid distribution points into “death traps” for desperate civilians.
This tragedy unfolds amid faltering ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has proposed amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, seeking a permanent end to hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The group also offered to release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff rejected Hamas’s response as “totally unacceptable,” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of continuing to reject the plan.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations has warned that the entire population faces the risk of famine, despite limited aid deliveries.
Aid groups report that armed individuals have hijacked food trucks, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations have been criticized for lacking neutrality. The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, has resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza.
As the international community urges both sides to reach an agreement, the recent violence underscores the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
