At least 15 Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency, whilst Palestinian news agency Wafa reported a higher death toll of 24.
The incident occurred near the Al-Alam roundabout west of Rafah, where displaced Palestinians were waiting for aid, Wafa reported. The agency said Israeli artillery and aircraft fired shells and gunfire at the civilians, with 200 people wounded in the attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it shot “a few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops”, claiming people had not followed designated routes.
The military said it was aware of casualty reports and was investigating the incident, adding that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operates “to enable the distribution of aid to the Gazan residents – and not to Hamas”.
Jake Wood, the former Marine who previously headed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resigned several days ago, stating the operation could not fulfil its mission whilst adhering to “humanitarian principles”.
Experts, governments, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organisations have accused Israel of carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people.
(information from The Guardian)
