At least 20 Palestinians killed at GHF site in southern Gaza
The US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says at least 20 Palestinians have been killed at its food distribution point in Khan Younis, the latest people to lose their lives at the sites described by the UN as “death traps”.
“At least 19 of the victims were trampled and one was stabbed amid a chaotic and dangerous surge, driven by agitators in the crowd,” the GHF said in a statement.
“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd – armed and affiliated with Hamas – deliberately fomented the unrest,” it said without providing any evidence.
GHF personnel identified multiple firearms in the crowd, the organisation said, adding that a US worker was threatened with a firearm by someone in the crowd.
The GHF has faced intense criticism since it began distributing aid in late May. The UN has condemned its operations after multiple reports that its contractors and Israeli forces have opened fire on aid seekers. More than 870 Palestinians have been killed near or at its distribution sites.
Ministry says 21 killed, including 15 from suffocation and stampede, after tear gas fired at GHF site
At least 21 people have been killed, including 15 from a stampede and suffocation due to tear gas being fired at Palestinians seeking food, at one of the GHF distribution hubs in Khan Younis, Gaza’s Health Ministry says in a statement.
“For the first time, deaths have been recorded due to suffocation and the intense stampede of citizens at aid distribution centers,” the ministry said.
It accused the Israeli army and the US of “deliberately” committing “massacres against the starving people in a systematic manner”.
The ministry issued the statement after the US- and Israel-backed GHF acknowledged this morning that 20 people had been killed at its distribution point in Khan Younis, accusing Hamas-affiliated elements of fomenting the unrest.
Since it began distributing aid in late May, the GHF has been engulfed in criticism for setting up sites that the UN describes as “death traps”. More than 870 Palestinians have been killed near or at its distribution sites.
After more aid seeker deaths, GHF justifications again contradicted by subsequent reports
As long as the GHF is controlling the humanitarian aid system and mechanism in the Gaza Strip, we’re likely to see more of these horrific incidents happening.
It started on the first day of operations, but every time an incident occurs, the GHF rushes to its official website and publishes a statement justifying what happened.
Just minutes after the incident that occurred earlier this morning, where 21 people have been confirmed dead, the GHF said it was very sorry for the loss of civilians waiting for aid, but went on to justify what happened, claiming there were armed groups within the crowd that caused the unrest.
Now, as time goes by and the day progresses, there are more shocking revelations as to what happened.
A witness from the crowd said tear gas was fired at it, causing mayhem and chaos to spread, and the stampede followed. This is very consistent with the report from the hospitals where most of the cases were transferred, including those who are still alive.
At least 74 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza today
Medical sources in the Gaza Strip have told Al Jazeera the number of people killed so far today in Israeli attacks across the besieged and bombarded territory has risen to at least 74.
As we reported earlier, the grim toll includes at least 21 aid seekers.
