The Israeli military killed 27 Palestinians waiting for aid in Rafah
Local health authorities in Gaza said on Tuesday that at least 27 Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid distribution near Rafah. The Israeli military said it shot at individuals who posed a threat to them about half a kilometre from the US aid centre.
The Israeli military said on Tuesday it fired shots at individuals about half a kilometre from the aid distribution site of US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the Gaza Strip.
The individuals were moving towards forces in a way that posed a threat to them, the military said.
It said it’s forces do not prevent Gaza residents from reaching aid despite multiple reports of deadly attacks by Israeli forces near the US centre in recent days.
The UN has called for an independent investigation into killings of Palestinians near the US-backed aid centre in south Gaza.
The incident is the latest in a string of similar events in which health officials and humanitarian groups say Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid under a new distribution system that has been condemned by humanitarian groups that include aid-related bodies of the United Nations.
It comes after Gaza health officials reported Monday that at least three people were killed and dozens injured when Israeli forces opened fire as people made their way toward a food distribution site, Reuters reported. The Israeli military said it was aware of reports of casualties and that the incident was being looked into, Reuters added.
That, in turn, came a day after more than 30 people were killed in a similar event Sunday, with hundreds also injured according to local health officials and aid workers. Witnesses described coming under fire while waiting for aid and attempting to reach a distribution site to NBC News’ crew on the ground.
The Israeli military vigorously denied those reports, as did the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — the U.S. and Israel-backed organization has been tasked with distributing aid in the enclave.
