Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza
Gaza, Jun 11: In yet another grim chapter of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, at least 36 Palestinians were reportedly killed and more than 200 others injured on Tuesday when gunfire erupted as desperate civilians gathered for food aid. The incident occurred in northern Gaza, where thousands had assembled near an aid distribution site.
Eyewitnesses claimed that gunshots rang out around 2 am, with Israeli drones and tanks allegedly opening fire as crowds gathered long before the scheduled aid drop. Similar chaos was reported in southern Rafah, where eight civilians lost their lives while seeking humanitarian relief.
Local hospitals confirmed that among the dead in the north were two men and a child. Additionally, three health workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike while responding to an earlier bombardment in Gaza City.
While the Israeli army has not commented on Tuesday’s specific incident, it has previously acknowledged firing warning shots in situations where individuals approached their forces under “suspicious circumstances.” The Israeli and US-backed humanitarian agency operating in Gaza claimed no violence occurred directly at their aid distribution points. However, they had temporarily suspended operations last week, citing safety concerns.
Describing the scene, local resident Abed Haniyah termed the shooting as "indiscriminate," calling the daily pursuit of food aid an act of “humiliation” for the besieged population.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed "meaningful progress" is being made in ceasefire negotiations, which include talks on the potential release of the 55 remaining hostages held in Gaza.
The United Nations, however, has sharply criticised the Israeli-US humanitarian aid mechanism, saying it restricts access and undermines established international norms by granting Israel disproportionate control over aid distribution. The UN maintains that its sidelined system remains more efficient and less prone to misuse.
The Israel-Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a deadly Hamas-led assault that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the capture of 251 hostages, has claimed the lives of nearly 55,000 Palestinians so far, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel asserts that over 20,000 of those killed were militants, though concrete evidence has not been publicly presented.
As humanitarian concerns grow and global calls for a ceasefire intensify, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, deepening the tragedy for the people of Gaza.