Gaza: Dozens Killed Near Aid Sites by Gunfire

Rafah & Khan Younis, July 19, 2025 – At least 32 Palestinians were shot dead on Saturday night near aid distribution sites in southern Gaza, according to Gaza Health Ministry and hospital officials. While Israeli forces claim they fired warning shots as crowds approached military personnel, survivors and aid workers insist no warning preceded the volley of bullets.

Context of the Gaza Incident

This tragedy is not isolated: following the launch of the U.S.–Israeli–backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) programme on May 27, dozens have been killed almost daily while seeking food aid. In fact, between late May and early July, nearly 798 people were reportedly shot near GHF distribution centers or along convoys. The UN and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly criticized GHF’s model as dangerously flawed and militarized.

What Happened This Time In Gaza?

• Reports say the shootings occurred hours before the aid centre opened, and about a kilometre away from its gates.
• Witnesses dispute Israel’s warning-shots narrative, claiming no audible alerts were issued before the attack.
• The GHF insists no massacre happened at their site at the moment, and pins the blame on Hamas-related agitators who incited chaos prior to opening hours.

Hundreds more were wounded, many hospitalized at Al-Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where medical staff described scenes of frantic chaos as people—many asking simply for bread—were struck by gunfire.

Most Recommanded:

Netanyahu Meets Trump as Gaza Talks Intensify

Rising Death Toll & Repeat Patterns

Since operations began:

• On July 3, at least 15 people died in Khan Younis while waiting for aid; another 25 died near the Netzarim corridor.
• On July 5, local authorities reported 23 killed within 24 hours at aid points.
• UN figures show that over 875 deaths have occurred near GHF sites in just six weeks.
• Prior June incidents included 17 casualties near Wadi Gaza and 57 killed near Rafah, according to medical sources and NGOs.

Humanitarian Reckoning: Critics Sound Alarm

UN rights officials and humanitarian watchdogs have blasted the aid system. They call the GHF mechanism “inherently unsafe,” insisting that militarized distribution under Israeli oversight exposes starving civilians to lethal violence. Human rights groups argue it breaches international humanitarian law.

Doctors and Red Cross personnel working in Rafah and Khan Younis hospitals report daily influxes of dozens of gunshot victims—with most injuries to the head, neck, chest or torso.

Israeli Military Response & International Pressure

The Israeli Defence Forces have acknowledged some civilian casualties and said operational protocols are under review. Their official statement claims shots were targeted at “suspects” deviating from designated access routes, not civilians seeking aid.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General—Antonio Guterres—has demanded an independent investigation, as global institutions warn Israel may be “weaponizing harvest and hunger” in besieged Gaza.

Why Gaza Story Demands Urgent Attention

• Millions in starvation: Gaza’s population—around two million—is facing famine-level deprivation. GHF packages of approximately 1,750 calories fall short of UN benchmarks and lack essentials like water, medicine or fuel.
• Lack of safe channels: NGOs including UNRWA have been excluded from distributing aid; GHF is the sole major provider, operating under Israeli military protection—raising fundamental safety concerns.
• Civilian lives at stake: Most victims are unarmed women, children, the elderly—people simply trying to feed their families during a brutal conflict that has already killed over 58,000 Palestinians since October 2023.
•  

The Stark Reality Facing Gaza’s Desperation

In this volatile mix, Gaza’s residents are faced with a brutal choice: risk being shot while seeking aid or face starvation. Day after day, the aid sites meant to relieve hunger turn into death traps.

GHF’s model intended to expand access—but critics say it’s accomplishing the opposite: forcing Palestinians into crowd surges under militarized control, where even approaching the site carries mortal risk.

What Needs to Change Now

1. Allow independent humanitarian agencies back in—UN, NGOs.
2. Launch a credible international investigation into aid-related shootings.
3. Redesign distribution protocols to separate civilians from military zones and prevent crowd surges.
4. Ensure transparency and accountability in how aid is delivered and whether civilian lives are preserved.