The Voice News: The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate and independent investigation into the deaths of Palestinians near an aid distribution center in Rafah, Gaza, following conflicting reports that Israeli forces opened fire on civilians seeking humanitarian aid.
Disputed Incident at GHF Aid Site
The incident occurred early Sunday morning near a center run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Eyewitnesses claim Israeli troops fired on crowds waiting for food. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported 31 people dead and 176 wounded, while the Red Cross confirmed 21 deaths among 179 casualties received at its Rafah field hospital.
In contrast, the Israeli military and GHF have denied the reports. The IDF said no shots were fired at civilians and blamed Hamas for spreading “false allegations.” GHF called the claims “outright fabrications,” stating there were no injuries or incidents at its site.
Calls for Accountability
In a statement, Guterres said:
“I am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza. I call for an immediate and independent investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.”
Israel’s foreign ministry responded harshly, calling Guterres’s remarks a “disgrace” and criticizing him for not condemning Hamas.
Testimonies and Casualties
Medical and humanitarian sources tell a grim story:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported patients at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis with serious gunshot and shrapnel wounds, citing drone, tank, and soldier fire.
Dr. Ahmed Abu Sweid, an Australian medic volunteering in Gaza, said many victims had fatal wounds to the head and chest.
Local journalist Mohammed Ghareeb described Israeli tanks approaching the al-Alam roundabout before opening fire. With emergency crews blocked, victims were transported by donkey carts.
Videos posted online appeared to show people under fire and aid being carried past bodies. The BBC could not independently verify their locations.
Israeli Response and Further Violence
The Israeli military later said its soldiers only fired warning shots to deter “suspects” about 1km from the GHF site and insisted there was no link to any aid-related deaths. The IDF also released drone footage claiming to show Hamas gunmen firing at civilians, though the BBC could not verify this.
Meanwhile, three more Palestinians were reportedly killed on Monday near the same Rafah aid center, and 14 people, including six children, died in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Jabalia.
Background
The deadly aid incident comes amid a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel imposed a total blockade on 2 March and resumed military operations shortly after. Since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostage takings, over 54,470 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Hamas health officials.
Despite the mounting casualties and calls for restraint, Israel continues its campaign to dismantle Hamas and retrieve the remaining 58 hostages, of whom at least 20 are believed to be alive.