At least 24 Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured after Israeli shots close to a food distribution point in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday (3), the Enclave Ministry of Health said.
The Israeli army stated that its forces opened fire against a group of individuals who had left the designated access routes near the Rafah distribution center.
The deaths occurred hours after Israel announced that three of its soldiers were killed in combat in the north of the Gaza Strip, while their forces continued with a month offensive against Hamas militants, which devastated much of the enclave.
Reuters could not independently verify reports in the north and south of Gaza.
The US Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the US, inaugurated its first places of distribution last week, in an effort among the population of Gaza who, in a large part, had to leave their homes to escape the combat.
The Foundation’s help plan, which ignores traditional aid groups, has been harshly criticized by the united nations and established charity, which claim that it does not follow humanitarian principles.
The private group, supported by Israel, said it had distributed 21 food trucks on Tuesday morning and that the aid operation was “safely conducted and without incidents at the site.”
However, there were reports of repeated murders near Rafah, while crowds were desperately crowded for supplies.
On Sunday (1st), Palestinian and International Authorities reported that. On Monday (2), three more Palestinians would have been killed by Israeli shots.
Israel denied having attacked civilians who gathered for help and classified reports of deaths during Sunday’s distribution as “inventions” of Hamas.
On Tuesday, the group stated that Israel’s defense forces identified “several suspects” moving toward them as they deviated from access routes.
“The forces fired evasive shots and, as they did not move away, additional shots were fired near the suspects advancing toward the forces,” he said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday he was “dismayed” with reports of killed and injured Palestinians while seeking help and asked for an independent investigation.
