Former US soldier alleges war crimes committed by Israeli army, US contractors in Gaza
A former US soldier who worked for the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has told the BBC that he had “without question … witnessed war crimes” in the killing of civilians seeking food aid.
Anthony Aguilar told the BBC that he saw Israeli soldiers and US contractors use live ammunition, artillery, mortar rounds and tank fire on civilians at food distribution sites.
“In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population until I was in Gaza at the hands of the [Israeli army] and US contractors,” he was quoted by the BBC as saying.
Al Jazeera had previously reported similar incidents, quoting Palestinian witnesses who were among those seeking food aid from the GHF.
Palestinians transport a wounded man who was reportedly shot as he waited to receive food parcels at a GHF distribution point in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on July 12
Israeli forces kill 12 aid seekers and injure 150 in attack in northern Gaza
At least 12 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces as they sought food in northern Gaza. Hospitals said more than 150 people were injured in the overnight attack, which happened near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza.
Israeli forces have targeted people in this area before. Twenty-six Palestinians were killed while waiting for food trucks on Sunday. The UN said more than 1,000 people have been killed at food distribution sites since May.
WHO chief urges Israel to immediately release staff member working in Gaza
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called on Israel to release a WHO staff member in Gaza who has been detained since Monday.
“It has been four days. Our colleague remains in detention. We again call for his immediate release,” Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted on X.
On Monday, WHO reported that its staff residence in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, was hit by projectiles and damaged by fire while its personnel and their families were inside. It also said staff members were detained, stripped to their underwear, handcuffed, blindfolded and interrogated at gunpoint.
We once again call on the Israeli authorities to ensure the immediate release of our @WHOoPt colleague detained in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/eFvWrKPJlP
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 25, 2025
