The Hamas-run civil defense agency in the Gaza Strip reported that on 20/7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid at multiple locations, killing 93 people and injuring dozens.
80 people were reportedly killed near an aid convoy in northern Gaza, 9 near a humanitarian distribution point outside Rafah in the south, and 4 more near another aid distribution point in Khan Younis, also in southern Gaza.
This marks the deadliest day for aid seekers in Gaza since the conflict began in 10/2023.
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People gather at a food distribution point in Gaza City on 20/7. Photo: AFP |
People gather at a food distribution point in Gaza City on 20/7. Photo: AFP
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) stated that its 25-vehicle aid convoy entered Gaza City from Israel on 20/7. After passing through the Zikim crossing, WFP staff witnessed "large numbers of hungry people" awaiting aid.
As the convoy approached, this crowd "came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other weapons," the WFP reported, calling the violence against aid recipients "unacceptable".
"We are extremely concerned and deeply saddened by this tragedy that has claimed so many lives," the WFP stated. "These people were simply trying to access food to sustain themselves and their families."
36-year-old Qasem Abu Khater said that while rushing to get a bag of flour, he saw thousands of desperate people jostling dangerously.
"Tanks then fired indiscriminately at us, and Israeli snipers targeted us like they were hunting animals in the forest. Dozens of people died right in front of me, and no one could save anyone else," Khater said.
The IDF claimed the casualty figures are inaccurate, stating their soldiers only fired warning shots to "neutralize a direct threat" from a crowd of thousands near Gaza City.
The IDF also released a video showing Palestinians rushing to retrieve aid from a truck, while Israeli officers instructed their soldiers not to shoot. The crowd then turned back towards the Israeli soldiers, clapping and cheering. The time and location of the video are unclear.
"No shots were fired. The orders were very clear: do not shoot. The Palestinian reaction reflects hope, not fear. Civilians began to welcome us," IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, accusing Hamas of spreading misinformation.
Palestinians retrieve aid from a truck in a video released by the IDF on 20/7. Video: IDF
On 20/7, Israel revoked the residency permit of Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Israel, after he repeatedly reported on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Whittall of spreading misinformation about the situation in the territory.
Reports of Gazan civilians killed while seeking aid have become almost daily occurrences, allegedly by the Israeli military.
The UN reported earlier this month that since late May, nearly 800 people in Gaza have been killed while seeking aid, including incidents along aid convoy routes.
The IDF claims it has made efforts to avoid harming civilians. This month, they issued new directives to soldiers in the field after "learning lessons" from incidents where Palestinians were killed while seeking aid.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Times of Israel)
