Gaza: Searching for aid turns deadly, Israeli fire kills over 51

Over 51 Palestinians have been killed after Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution site in south Gaza, the BBC reported on June 17th.

Witnesses and rescuers stated that the incident took place near Khan Younis, where thousands of people had gathered in order to receive flour from the World Food Programme.

The Hamas-run civil defence agency reported that Israeli drones launched missiles, followed by tank shelling, which left over 200 people injured. Israel’s military announced that it is evaluating the reports.

The attack is the latest in a series of shootings near Gaza aid sites, which have occurred almost daily in recent weeks. Nasser Hospital, a key medical centre in the area, has been struggling to keep up with the casualties.

Verified footage shared on social media showed the aftermath of the strike. The World Health Organization confirmed it received reports of a mass casualty incident linked to the food distribution efforts.

Amidst the aid crisis in Gaza, at least 42 more Palestinians were killed during Israeli attacks on June 12th, Al Jazeera reported. Among the dead were 24 people who had been waiting for humanitarian assistance, Middle East Eye via Al Jazeera reported on June 12th.

Hospital sources in Gaza confirmed that the attacks took place early in the morning. The strikes also damaged communications infrastructure, cutting Gaza off from the outside world as the situation continues to worsen. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the arrest of several Hamas members during an operation in Syria’s Beit Jinn area.

Israel has accused Hamas of “weaponising suffering in Gaza,” Al-Monitor reported via AFP on June 12th. Israel made the accusation after The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said Hamas killed eight of its aid workers near Khan Yunis.

The GHF reported that Hamas attacked a bus carrying its staff. Israel said Hamas denies food and targets lifesavers. Hamas rejected the charity’s claims and called it a tool of Israeli soldiers. The incident highlights growing dangers around aid distribution.

Al Jazeera, Al-Monitor via AFP, BBC, Maghrebi.org