Palestinians searching for food in Rafah, southern Gaza, were caught in a deadly incident near an aid distribution center early Sunday morning.
People had gathered at the site, hoping to receive basic supplies, when gunfire suddenly erupted. The situation quickly turned tragic, leaving scores of people wounded and many others dead. Conflicting reports have since surfaced, with differing accounts from local witnesses, humanitarian organizations, and Israeli military officials.
The deadly event happened near a facility operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization supported by both the United States and Israel. According to aid workers and local sources, the violence unfolded as hundreds of civilians stood in line waiting for food and supplies. Several witnesses claim that Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd, leading to chaos and panic. People were seen fleeing, while others lay injured or dead on the ground. Emergency responders were reportedly unable to reach the site immediately, forcing some residents to use donkey carts to transport the wounded.
Reports from humanitarian groups on the ground paint a grim picture. The Red Cross hospital in Rafah said it received nearly 180 casualties, including women and children. Twenty-one of those brought in were already dead, while the rest suffered from gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Médecins Sans Frontières also confirmed treating people with serious injuries in nearby medical centers, with some victims in critical condition. Testimonies collected by aid workers describe people being fired at from multiple directions, including by drones, tanks, and ground troops.
The Israeli military has firmly denied targeting civilians. Officials say that no shots were fired at or within the aid center itself. Instead, they suggest that armed individuals were present in the area and that any shots fired were aimed at suspects who approached military positions. The military has released aerial footage, claiming it shows gunmen attacking civilians. However, independent news organizations have not been able to confirm these claims, as Israel does not allow foreign journalists into Gaza, making fact-checking extremely difficult.
Calls for an independent investigation have grown louder following the incident. The United Nations is urging a thorough and impartial probe to determine what actually happened and who is responsible. Human rights leaders have raised concerns about the way aid is being distributed in Gaza, saying the current methods are unsafe and dehumanizing for people who are already suffering from months of conflict, hunger, and displacement. Many are now questioning whether humanitarian operations in Gaza can continue without major changes to ensure the safety of civilians.
In the aftermath, the situation remains tense. Palestinian families continue to struggle for basic necessities, often risking their lives just to collect food. The aid center involved in Sunday’s incident had been seen as a lifeline by many, especially as humanitarian access to Gaza has been limited by the ongoing conflict. As pressure mounts for answers and accountability, those on the ground are left dealing with the pain and fear of yet another deadly day in a long and devastating crisis.
While both sides offer very different versions of what happened, the fact remains that dozens of people in desperate need of aid were either killed or injured. With no clear resolution in sight, the need for safe and reliable humanitarian access in Gaza grows more urgent by the day.