A chaotic and deadly scene unfolded near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza on Monday, as Palestinians reported being fired upon by both unidentified Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces. The incident, which took place near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) centre in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah, left at least six people dead and 99 others injured, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Eyewitnesses described masked men in civilian clothes suddenly opening fire on civilians waiting for food aid. “At first, we thought they were volunteers,” said Hisham Saeed Salem, a local resident. “But then they started shooting at us. Even those who had managed to collect aid were targeted.”
Some witnesses claimed that the gunmen appeared to operate near Israeli troops and retreated into areas under Israeli military control. One injured man told reporters: “They told us to line up, and then they shot at us. I was hit in the neck.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they are investigating the incident. The GHF, which is backed by both the U.S. and Israel, confirmed its Tal al-Sultan site was closed due to crowd chaos and asserted that aid distribution proceeded without incident at two other centres on Monday.
However, the broader picture remains grim. Gaza’s health ministry reports that since GHF aid operations began on May 26, over 127 people have died and 1,287 have been injured in or near aid distribution areas. Most casualties occurred near Israeli military zones, where Israel claims it only fired warning shots or targeted suspects approaching too closely.
Adding to the tension, Israel’s Prime Minister recently confirmed that the country is arming certain Palestinian clans in Gaza who oppose Hamas—a move that critics fear is fueling further internal violence and lawlessness.
The GHF, which distributes food independently of the United Nations, says it has delivered over 11 million meals without major incident. But the UN and other humanitarian groups have refused to participate in the new system, citing violations of neutrality and humanitarian principles.
With Gaza still reeling from months of siege and airstrikes—over 54,900 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s campaign began following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks—many fear that the very act of collecting food is becoming a deadly risk in a war-torn enclave gripped by hunger and desperation.
