Tragedy in Rafah: More than 30 people were killed and at least 170 others injured after Israeli soldiers allegedly opened fire at an aid distribution site in Rafah, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The incident occurred as civilians gathered to collect food aid. Eyewitnesses, including residents and medics, claimed that Israeli ground forces fired from a nearby crane overlooking the area, and that a tank also opened fire on the crowd en route to the distribution point
Tragedy in Rafah
In yet another tragic episode of the ongoing West Asia conflict, more than 30 people were killed and at least 170 others injured after Israeli soldiers allegedly opened fire at an aid distribution site in Rafah, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The incident occurred as civilians gathered to collect food aid. Eyewitnesses, including residents and medics, claimed that Israeli ground forces fired from a nearby crane overlooking the area, and that a tank also opened fire on the crowd’s route to the distribution point.
However, the Israeli military has denied responsibility for the deaths and injuries. In an official statement, it said that a preliminary inquiry found no evidence that Israeli soldiers had fired on civilians at or near the aid site.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), US-based organization supported by both the United States and the Israeli government, also stated that aid was distributed without any incident and that there were no fatalities or injuries. To support its claim, GHF released an undated video showing people peacefully collecting food boxes.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) published drone footage reportedly taken in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis. The video, according to the IDF, showed armed masked men shooting at civilians who were attempting to access humanitarian aid. The IDF has accused Hamas of deliberately sabotaging aid efforts and preventing successful food distribution in Gaza.
Despite Israel easing its total blockade on Gaza in March, only a limited amount of aid has managed to enter the region. The GHF began distributing aid last month, bypassing traditional humanitarian organizations. However, this move has drawn significant criticism from the international community. The United Nations has warned that such strategies could lead to the forced relocation of Palestinians and escalate violence further. The World Food Program and the UN have also reported increasing incidents of looting of aid supplies, some reportedly carried out by armed groups.
On Friday, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian agency described Gaza as “the hungriest place on earth.”
In a separate humanitarian effort, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, launched a new mission to deliver aid to Gaza. The group’s vessel, the Madlin, departed from the Italian port of Catania on Sunday. This marks a renewed attempt to bring relief to the region after a previous mission was disrupted by a drone attack in the Mediterranean. Among the volunteers aboard is climate activist Greta Thunberg. The organization acknowledged the supplies are limited but emphasized their symbolic importance.
Nearly 20 months into the war, efforts to reach a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages have yet to produce a breakthrough. Since the collapse of the last temporary truce in March, Israel has intensified its military campaign against Hamas in a bid to dismantle the group entirely.
In the latest development, Hamas has indicated its readiness to immediately enter a fresh round of negotiations aimed at resolving key points of contention. However, its formal response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal was deemed “totally unacceptable” by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy. This assessment was echoed by Israeli officials.
Qatar and Egypt, which have consistently acted as mediators throughout the conflict, have reiterated the urgency of intensifying diplomatic efforts to overcome current obstacles to peace talks.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens and military operations persist, the international community continues to grapple with how to ensure aid reaches those in need while working toward a lasting resolution to the conflict.
According to International Committee of the Red Cross A high number of dead and injured patients were received by the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah yesterday morning. ICRC says: “Gaza – Early morning on June 1, the 60-bed Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases, including women and children. The majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. Twenty-one patients were declared dead upon arrival. All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site. This is the highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago. It far surpassed the capacity of the hospital.”