AhlulBayt News Agency: At least 24 Palestinians were killed and over 200 others injured after Israeli forces opened fire and bombed crowds waiting for humanitarian aid outside a US aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, early this morning.
Palestinian sources reported that Israeli artillery and warplanes targeted civilians gathered near the aid distribution center at Al-Alam roundabout, west of Rafah.
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) confirmed that dozens of Palestinians have been killed at aid distribution points backed by the US and Israel.
The organization warned that these incidents highlight the inhumanity and ineffectiveness of the new aid delivery system, describing it as extremely dangerous.
With blood banks running low, medical teams on the ground were forced to donate blood themselves to treat the wounded. The organization stressed that weaponizing humanitarian aid in this manner could constitute a crime against humanity.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the new aid mechanism, calling it a “deadly trap”.
He urged Israel to lift the blockade and allow the United Nations unrestricted access to deliver and distribute humanitarian assistance across Gaza.
Lazzarini emphasized that the UN must be allowed to conduct independent aid operations to prevent widespread famine, particularly among Gaza’s one million children. He also called on Israel to permit international media access to report on the ongoing atrocities.
He noted that under the new system, aid distribution is limited to just three or four locations, forcing civilians to travel long distances in dangerous conditions. Previously, aid was distributed across 400 sites. So far, 310 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the war began.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed 54,470 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and wounded 124,693 others, according to the latest figures. The actual death toll is believed to be higher, as many victims remain trapped under rubble or in areas rescue teams cannot access due to continued attacks.
/129
Your Comment