Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza
Gaza, Jun 1: A deadly attack at a humanitarian aid distribution center in southern Gaza’s Rafah on Sunday has ignited a heated exchange of accusations and denials, with over 30 Palestinians reported killed.
Palestinian officials were quick to blame Israel for the strike, labeling it a deliberate assault on innocent civilians. In response, Israeli authorities rejected the claims outright, calling them “100 percent fake” and accused Hamas of collaborating with major media outlets like Al Jazeera and the BBC to spread misinformation.
Hamas denounced the incident as a “new massacre,” alleging that Israeli tanks fired on civilians waiting for food. However, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — the organization overseeing relief distribution in the region — categorically dismissed the reports as “untrue and fabricated,” emphasizing that such claims were designed to derail their ongoing aid efforts.
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, condemned Hamas’ allegations in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the militant group and its “accomplices” in the media of spreading baseless accusations to tarnish Israel’s image.
“Hamas, together with its accomplices Al Jazeera and BBC World, are spreading yet another blood libel in order to undermine true humanitarian efforts in Gaza,” Azar wrote.
The GHF, which is supported by both the United States and Israel, echoed those concerns in an official statement, decrying what it described as a “coordinated campaign of misinformation.”
“Major news outlets are relying on unverified and unsubstantiated reports,” the GHF stated. “We are observing coordinated efforts every day that instigate false narratives and distort media coverage around the operations of our distribution sites.”
Highlighting its own efforts, the GHF said it has distributed more than 4.7 million meals in just six days, with plans to expand distribution sites across Gaza, including the north.
GHF interim executive director John Acree emphasized the challenging conditions on the ground. “For every truck we successfully bring into our network, other humanitarian groups are being looted before reaching those in need,” he said. “Despite these conditions, our team is managing massive, desperate crowds without a single casualty.”
Meanwhile, both Al Jazeera and the BBC reported that Israeli tanks had opened fire on civilians waiting for aid, leading to mass casualties. These reports have only added to the controversy, drawing sharp rebukes from Israeli and GHF officials, who insist the claims are false and misleading.
As tensions escalate in Gaza, the clash between ground realities and media narratives continues to complicate efforts to get aid to those who need it most.