Dozens wounded in their necks, chests, heads from shootings near aid sites
Earlier this morning, the GHF posted on Facebook that it was going to open and deliver food. That’s why many Palestinians approached distribution points in both Wadi Gaza and al-Mawasi, Rafah. Thousands of people approached these distribution points to try to collect whatever food they could.
As usual, Israeli forces used live ammunition to disperse Palestinians. They also used tear gas, injuring many people. In Rafah, at least four Palestinians were killed and some 100 people injured. They suffered wounds in their necks, chests and heads. The situation is very critical. Doctors are saying it’s very challenging to treat their wounds.
Also, here in the middle area, where Palestinians approached the second GHF distribution point, at least one Palestinian was killed and 20 others injured, also very critically.
Palestinians say the only reason they go [to the GHF aid distribution points] is that they are the only food sources for their families. But distribution points are not safe. Palestinians do not have a safe place to go to.
Palestinians say aid distribution sites ‘a trap’
We have been reporting on the deaths of five people at US-backed aid sites in central and southern Gaza as a result of Israeli gunfire, the latest incident of Israeli troops opening fire on hungry Palestinians seeking aid.
Witnesses near the aid site in Rafah city said the shooting took place at about 6am (03:00 GMT) today, when they were told the site would open.
Adham Dahman, 30, who was at Nasser Hospital with a bandage on his chin, said a tank had fired towards them.
“We didn’t know how to escape,” he told AP. “This is a trap for us, not aid.”
Zahed Ben Hassan, another witness, said someone next to him was shot in the head. He said he and others pulled the body from the scene and managed to flee to the hospital.
“They said it was a safe area from 6am [03:00 GMT] until 6pm [15:00 GMT] … So why did they start shooting at us?” he told AP. “There was light out, and they have their cameras and can clearly see us.”
Rafah aid shooting deaths rise to 11
Earlier, we brought you reports that four people were killed in a shooting near an aid distribution site west of Rafah. The number of those killed has now risen to 11, according to a local medical source cited by our colleagues on the ground.
Since late May, when the Israel-backed GHF began operating aid distribution sites in Gaza, Israeli fire has reportedly killed more than 120 Palestinians near the sites.
