Tragic Gaza Crisis: Dozens of Palestinians Killed and Nearly 200 Wounded Amid Aid Collection Efforts

At least 26 Palestinians were killed and over 175 wounded as they gathered to receive desperately needed food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and eyewitnesses. The incident occurred near an aid distribution site operated by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, just outside the southern city of Rafah. Witnesses described a chaotic scene early Sunday morning, with Israeli tanks reportedly approaching as thousands of Palestinians converged on the area, seeking humanitarian assistance.

Eyewitness accounts allege that Israeli forces opened fire from approximately 1,000 yards away from the aid point. “There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, who was present among the crowd. Multiple reports describe panic and confusion as gunfire erupted, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries, including women and young people. Makeshift carts were used to transport the dead and wounded to nearby field hospitals amid the chaos.

The Israeli Defense Forces stated that they are “currently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site” and that the situation is still being reviewed. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported that it had successfully delivered 16 truckloads of aid earlier that day “without incident,” dismissing claims of widespread violence and disorder around its distribution sites. The group emphasized that its security contractors have not engaged in gunfire at the crowds, while Israeli military representatives have acknowledged firing warning shots in earlier confrontations.

Witnesses recounted that prior to the shooting, Israeli forces ordered the assembled crowd to disperse and return later. However, as people continued moving toward the Flag Roundabout—about 1,000 yards from the main aid site—around 3 a.m., Israeli forces allegedly opened fire. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, recalled seeing many individuals hit by bullets, including a young man who died on the scene. Mohammed Abu Teaima described losing his cousin to gunfire and noted that several family members had been wounded.

The organization’s attempts to distribute aid have been overshadowed by repeated outbreaks of violence, with local health officials reporting that, even before this latest incident, at least six people had died and more than 50 had been wounded during previous distributions. Despite these events, the foundation continues to deny reports of “deaths, mass injuries and chaos” at its facilities.

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of Israel’s new aid distribution system, which was devised in partnership with the United States to prevent Hamas from intercepting humanitarian supplies. Both Israel and the U.S. maintain that the system is necessary to ensure aid reaches civilians, not militants. However, the United Nations and major international relief groups have refused to participate, arguing that the system undermines basic humanitarian principles by granting Israel control over distribution and forcing recipients to travel to militarized zones—which has, according to critics, increased vulnerability for civilians.

Delivering aid in Gaza remains a profound challenge. Despite a partial easing of Israel’s blockade, U.N. agencies and other relief organizations report ongoing difficulties entering the territory. They cite not only Israeli-imposed restrictions but also the breakdown of public order and widespread looting, which together leave vast numbers of Palestinians at risk of hunger and further violence.