At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured near a food distribution site in Rafah, Gaza on Tuesday, according to local health officials, after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on people who had strayed from designated aid access routes. The Israeli military confirmed its troops fired on a group of individuals advancing toward them outside permitted zones, claiming they first issued warnings and “evasive shots” before escalating. The deadly incident adds to a growing number of casualties around aid distribution points, where desperate civilians continue to gather in hopes of securing food amidst extreme shortages. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a U.S.-backed, Israeli-approved group — said its Tuesday morning distribution of 21 truckloads of aid occurred “safely within the site”, though deadly chaos unfolded nearby once again.
The killings come amid Israel’s ongoing offensive across Gaza, with operations intensifying in both the northern and southern parts of the enclave. Just hours before the Rafah shootings, Israel confirmed the deaths of three of its soldiers during combat in the north. Meanwhile, mass evacuations were ordered in Khan Younis late Monday, prompting fears that the last functioning major hospital in southern Gaza — Nasser Hospital — may have to shut down. The UN and Palestinian officials warn there are no safe zones left in the Strip, where over 2.3 million residents are now internally displaced. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an independent investigation into repeated attacks on civilians seeking aid, saying he is “appalled” by the mounting death toll and the collapse of humanitarian protections.
Humanitarian organizations continue to express concern over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operation, which bypasses traditional aid channels and has been criticized for failing to uphold neutral humanitarian principles. Despite assurances of safety, deadly incidents have occurred repeatedly near its sites — including 31 deaths reported Sunday and several others earlier this week. The Israeli military has denied deliberately targeting civilians, dismissing many accounts as Hamas “fabrications”. As of Tuesday, Gaza’s death toll since October 7, 2023, has surpassed 54,000, according to local health authorities. With tensions mounting, critics say Israel’s handling of the crisis — including selective aid approval and forceful military action near aid sites — is turning humanitarian assistance into a tool of war, deepening the suffering of Gaza’s besieged population.
