Dozens killed and scores injured in shooting near aid point in Gaza

By Euronews with AP

Published connected 01/06/2025 - 11:04 GMT+2•Updated 21:38

At slightest 31 group were killed and 175 wounded connected Sunday arsenic they were connected their measurement to person nutrient successful nan Gaza Strip, according to wellness officials, a Red Cross section infirmary and aggregate witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces fired connected crowds astir 1,000 meters from an assistance tract tally by an Israeli-backed organisation.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a connection calling nan reports "false" and referring to them arsenic "serious allegations against nan IDF regarding occurrence towards Gazan residents successful nan area of nan humanitarian assistance distribution tract successful Gaza."

It later besides posted a video connected societal media level X, which it claimed showed "gunmen successful Gaza shooting astatine civilians going to cod aid", adding that "Hamas is doing everything successful its powerfulness to forestall nan successful distribution of nutrient successful Gaza."

The Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been distributing assistance successful Gaza, said successful a connection that it delivered assistance “without incident" early Sunday and has denied erstwhile accounts of chaos and gunfire astir its sites, which are successful Israeli subject zones wherever independent entree is limited.

New assistance strategy marred by chaos

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution of assistance has been marred by chaos, and aggregate witnesses person said Israeli troops fired connected crowds adjacent nan transportation sites. Before Sunday, astatine slightest six group had been killed and much than 50 wounded according to section wellness officials.

UN agencies and awesome assistance groups person refused to activity pinch nan foundation, saying that it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to power who receives assistance and forces group to relocate to distribution sites, causing further wide displacement successful nan enclave.

Experts person warned that nan territory is astatine consequence of famine if much assistance is not brought in.

Israel and nan United States opportunity nan caller strategy is aimed astatine preventing Hamas from siphoning disconnected assistance. Israel has not provided immoderate grounds of systematic diversion, and nan UN denies it has occurred.

Shooting collapsed retired adjacent distribution hub

The gunfire connected Sunday erupted astatine a roundabout astir a kilometre from nan distribution site, successful an area that is controlled by Israeli forces, witnesses said.

Ibrahim Abu Saoud, an eyewitness, said Israeli forces opened occurrence astatine group moving toward nan assistance distribution centre.

“There were galore martyrs, including women,” nan 40-year-old resident said. “We were astir 300 meters (yards) distant from nan military.”

Abu Saoud said he saw galore group pinch gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died astatine nan scene. “We weren’t capable to thief him,” he said.

Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces unfastened occurrence and termination his relative and different female arsenic they were heading to nan hub. He said his relative was changeable successful his thorax and died astatine nan scene. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law, he said.

“They opened dense occurrence straight toward us,” he said arsenic he was waiting extracurricular nan Red Cross section infirmary for connection connected his wounded relative.