Palestinians in Gaza faced renewed violence on Monday as they approached an aid distribution centre run by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Witnesses described being fired upon both by Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops near the Tal al-Sultan site in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, 6 people were killed and 99 injured in areas designated for aid collection during the incident.
The Israeli military confirmed it is investigating these reports. Meanwhile, the GHF stated that the Tal al-Sultan site remained closed on Monday, though two other aid centres opened without incident.
Tensions Rise Amid Aid Distribution in Gaza
Since the GHF began aid distribution on 26 May, deadly clashes near its centres have become almost daily occurrences. The Tal al-Sultan site has been a particular flashpoint, with dozens of Palestinians killed while attempting to reach it along a route passing through an Israeli military zone.
While the Israeli military denies firing directly at civilians within aid sites, it claims troops have targeted “suspects” who ignored warnings and approached military personnel. Monday’s attack was notably different as eyewitnesses reported that masked Palestinian gunmen, seemingly allied with Israeli forces, also opened fire.
One witness, Hisham Saeed Salem, told BBC Arabic:
“At first, we thought they might be Palestinian youths helping with the process, but suddenly, they began shooting at us.”
He added:
“Even those who managed to get a box of aid were targeted and shot. We still don’t know who these attackers are. They took everything from us — some even stole from us during the chaos.”
Another witness, Mohammed Sakout, narrowly escaped death, recounting:
“Several young men were shot and killed right behind me. Some bullets passed just inches from my head.”
He continued:
“At first, it was the Israeli army that was shooting at civilians. But today, we were shocked to discover the presence of gangs and militias.”
At Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Mohammed Kabaga, seriously injured by a gunshot wound to his neck, said:
“A group of masked armed men who were organising us started firing towards us directly. We went to get aid. They said to stand in line. We stood in line and suddenly they started shooting at us. While I was standing, I was surprised when a bullet hit me, I got dizzy and fell down.”
Aid Groups and Authorities Respond to Growing Violence
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation confirmed that two sites in Rafah and Wadi Gaza distributed aid without issues on Monday, but the Tal al-Sultan centre remained closed due to “crowd chaos.”
GHF interim executive director John Acree highlighted that over 11 million meals had been delivered in two weeks “without an injury or major incident” at distribution sites.
However, Gaza’s health ministry reports that since the aid efforts began, hospitals have received 127 dead and 1,287 injured from areas near aid distribution points.
The GHF’s initiative, which employs US private security contractors, aims to bypass the UN and other aid groups who refuse to cooperate, citing breaches of humanitarian neutrality and impartiality.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, launched after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, continues to devastate the territory. According to Gaza health authorities, nearly 55,000 people have died since the conflict began.