DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Monday, Israeli troops fired on crowds trying to approach food distribution centers in Gaza, reportedly killing 34 people, according to local health officials. This incident marks the most lethal day since a new aid distribution method, supported by Israel and the U.S., was implemented last month.
The Israeli military has yet to provide a statement regarding these recent shootings. In prior incidents, occurring almost daily since the centers were launched three weeks ago, the military stated that warning shots were fired at “suspects” nearing their positions. However, they did not disclose whether these shots caused any fatalities.
As Palestinians strive to reach food distribution points, operated by the private contractor Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), they are forced to gamble between starvation and risking their lives past Israeli forces. The Gaza Health Ministry, governed by Hamas, reports that hundreds of individuals have been killed or wounded in these confrontations since the aid system began.
The Health Ministry confirmed that 33 fatalities occurred near the southern city of Rafah and one individual was killed while approaching another GHF hub in central Gaza. Four additional deaths were reported in different locations, unrelated to the food center efforts.
Due to a severe shortage of food supplies during a 2½-month blockade by Israel, Gaza’s residents are desperate to secure enough provisions for their families. In the past month, Israel has marginally relaxed these restrictions to permit limited aid entry.
Eyewitnesses describe chaotic scenes as Israeli forces opened fire on congregating Palestinians predawn, around 4 a.m., at the Flag Roundabout before the Rafah food center opened. Witnesses, Heba Jouda and Mohamed Abed, attested that gunfire rained down as individuals scrambled for safety. “The gunfire came from every direction,” recounted Jouda, a frequent visitor to secure food for her family.
The nearby Red Cross field hospital dealt with close to 200 casualties that day, marking the highest single-day injury count since the food center conflicts began. The previous day, 170 individuals sought medical help, many with gunshot wounds from the GHF center encounters. June 2 was previously noted as the deadliest day with 31 casualties.
The site of these shootings, the Flag Roundabout, is a regular hotspot for violence. Situated a few hundred meters from the GHF center, it lies on the official route designated by the Israeli forces for civilians accessing aid, who claim shooting incidents occur if they breach certain perimeters or stray from this path.
A GHF spokesperson mentioned that no past incidents unfolded directly at their facilities during operational hours. Most incidents involved individuals veering off the assigned routes or attempting shortcuts during restricted times. The organization seeks to fortify safety protocols, recently transitioning the facility’s operational hours to daylight.
The distribution initiative, backed by Israel and the United States, serves as a replacement for the U.N.-coordinated relief efforts that functioned since the onset of the lengthy Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel argues this measure hinders Hamas from redirecting aid; however, global aid agencies contest this, highlighting the initiative’s inadequacies in meeting urgent population needs and accusing it of weaponizing food.
An official from Doctors Without Borders condemned allegations of widespread aid theft by Hamas, arguing these claims aim to dismantle a functional humanitarian system. “This system is chaotic and lethal,” stated Anna Halford, the group’s field coordinator, in discussions with the British House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee.
Experts have sounded alarms that Israel’s continued military operations and aid restrictions edge Gaza towards famine. Since October 2023, an Israeli military offensive seeking to dismantle Hamas has resulted in over 55,300 Palestinian deaths, with women and children constituting more than half of the casualties. Israel initiated these offensives after an October 7 attack by Hamas militants resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mainly civilians, and 251 hostages. While some hostages have been freed in ceasefire negotiations, 53 remain captive, less than half alive.