**This incident highlights the ongoing violence and tragedy in the region, as casualties remain high amid ongoing conflict and restricted access to aid.**
**Tragic Toll: 12 Palestinians Shot Near Gaza Aid Distribution Site**
**Tragic Toll: 12 Palestinians Shot Near Gaza Aid Distribution Site**
**At least 12 Palestinians were reported dead following gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza.**
At least 12 Palestinians tragically lost their lives on Thursday while waiting for humanitarian assistance at a distribution site in central Gaza, according to reports from medical personnel and rescuers. Eyewitnesses claimed the deceased were killed when Israeli forces opened fire at those gathered for aid near a US- and Israeli-supported site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). However, the GHF denied that any such incident occurred in its vicinity, stating that their operations were being falsely reported.
The Israeli military countered that soldiers had discharged warning shots at "suspects" approaching their positions near the Netzarim area and claimed they were unaware of any casualties. This event adds to a grim tally of near-daily shootings occurring at similar aid sites across Gaza, where reports indicate hundreds of lives have been lost since the GHF took over aid distribution practices in upcoming weeks.
The health ministry in Gaza confirmed 12 fatalities since the midnight hour, all occurring while individuals sought aid, but did not provide further specifics. Additionally, the Hamas-operated civil defense service reported that at least 15 individuals were killed and around 60 sustained injuries from the gunfire.
Global media access to Gaza remains extremely limited due to restrictions placed by Israeli authorities, complicating efforts to validate casualty figures or specific events as outlined by various groups. An eyewitness, Bassam Abu Shaar, described scenes where a large crowd had assembled to receive aid only to be met with gunfire as it began in the early hours of the morning, making it impossible for many to flee or assist those caught in the chaos.
In response to the incident, the GHF reiterated that their location remained peaceful during the reported time, condemning what they labeled as disinformation from Gaza's health ministry. In ongoing discussions on humanitarian operations, Hamas has called for UN involvement in aid distribution, rejecting the new GHF-led framework, which is viewed as violating key humanitarian principles.
Additionally, on the very same day, civil defense units recovered numerous bodies in various locales across Gaza, stemming from reports of Israeli shelling. Among the losses was a family of seven, including five children, killed when their tent was struck in the Jabalia refugee camp.
This escalation comes amid continued military responses from Israel following the tragic incident involving Hamas-led attacks on October 7, which culminated in extensive casualties in southern Israel. Recent data from Gaza’s health ministry cites over 55,000 fatalities in the region since the onset of this recent conflict.
The Israeli military countered that soldiers had discharged warning shots at "suspects" approaching their positions near the Netzarim area and claimed they were unaware of any casualties. This event adds to a grim tally of near-daily shootings occurring at similar aid sites across Gaza, where reports indicate hundreds of lives have been lost since the GHF took over aid distribution practices in upcoming weeks.
The health ministry in Gaza confirmed 12 fatalities since the midnight hour, all occurring while individuals sought aid, but did not provide further specifics. Additionally, the Hamas-operated civil defense service reported that at least 15 individuals were killed and around 60 sustained injuries from the gunfire.
Global media access to Gaza remains extremely limited due to restrictions placed by Israeli authorities, complicating efforts to validate casualty figures or specific events as outlined by various groups. An eyewitness, Bassam Abu Shaar, described scenes where a large crowd had assembled to receive aid only to be met with gunfire as it began in the early hours of the morning, making it impossible for many to flee or assist those caught in the chaos.
In response to the incident, the GHF reiterated that their location remained peaceful during the reported time, condemning what they labeled as disinformation from Gaza's health ministry. In ongoing discussions on humanitarian operations, Hamas has called for UN involvement in aid distribution, rejecting the new GHF-led framework, which is viewed as violating key humanitarian principles.
Additionally, on the very same day, civil defense units recovered numerous bodies in various locales across Gaza, stemming from reports of Israeli shelling. Among the losses was a family of seven, including five children, killed when their tent was struck in the Jabalia refugee camp.
This escalation comes amid continued military responses from Israel following the tragic incident involving Hamas-led attacks on October 7, which culminated in extensive casualties in southern Israel. Recent data from Gaza’s health ministry cites over 55,000 fatalities in the region since the onset of this recent conflict.
