Israeli attacks on Sunday have resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, including two young girls, in the Gaza Strip as hostilities between Israel and Hamas continue into their 21st month. The civil defense agency reported that five people, among the deceased, were transported to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis following an assault by Israeli forces on civilians.
The attack occurred around 6:00 am while locals were on their way to an aid distribution center located west of Rafah, managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This US-backed organization has faced scrutiny from the United Nations and various humanitarian agencies, which have chosen not to collaborate with GHF due to concerns about its operational practices and perceived neutrality.
When questioned about the fatalities, the Israeli military stated that they had fired on individuals who were allegedly advancing in a manner deemed dangerous to the soldiers, despite having received prior warnings. They claimed that the area surrounding the aid distribution site had been classified as an “active combat zone” during the night.
Eyewitness Abdallah Nour al-Din recounted that around 4:30 am, people began to congregate in the Al-Alam region of Rafah. After approximately 90 minutes, hundreds made their way toward the distribution point, prompting the army to open fire.
In the aftermath, footage from AFPTV showed mourners outside the Nasser Hospital grieving over blood-soaked body bags. One woman, Lin al-Daghma, expressed her anguish while standing by her father’s body, and another man was seen mourning over his brother’s corpse.
Witnesses described difficulty accessing food aid as a result of a comprehensive Israeli blockade on Gaza that has persisted for over two months, although there had been a recent, slight easing of restrictions. The civil defense agency noted that numerous casualties have occurred near aid distribution points since late May.
Additionally, Bassal reported that another five individuals, including the two young girls, were killed earlier at approximately 1:00 am when a strike targeted a tent in the Al-Mawasi displaced persons camp situated in southern Gaza.
