The Nasser hospital in southern Gaza has reported that 24 individuals were killed following an incident near an aid distribution site. Eyewitnesses assert that Israeli troops fired on Palestinians who were gathering to access food supplies on Saturday. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated there were "no known injured individuals" from their gunfire in the area.
An Israeli military official mentioned that warning shots were fired at individuals considered a security threat, though the details from both sides lack independent verification. Currently, international journalists are not permitted into Gaza for objective reporting.
Footage obtained by the BBC shows body bags at the Nasser hospital's courtyard, accompanied by medical personnel and civilians in blood-stained clothing. One video's witness recounted that individuals stood waiting for aid when they were allegedly subjected to targeted fire lasting five minutes. A paramedic characterized the incident as a cold-blooded killing by Israeli forces. These videos have not been confirmed by the BBC.
Reuters spoke to witnesses who described shooting incidents targeting victims' heads and torsos. Eyewitness accounts reported bodies in white shrouds at Nasser hospital, underpinning the relentless violence affecting civilians seeking food in Gaza.
Israeli forces initially imposed a total blockade on aid to Gaza in March and later intensified military operations against Hamas, ending a two-month ceasefire. While there was a partial easing of the blockade in late May, dire shortages of food, medicine, and fuel persist amid warnings from global experts of potential famine.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, reported a growing crisis of malnutrition among children in Gaza, with thousands affected. Recent initiatives to facilitate aid distribution involve Israel and the US establishing a new operation through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to prevent aid misappropriation by Hamas. However, the UN human rights office reported 798 deaths linked to aid-related violence, primarily within GHF-operated sites.
The Israeli military acknowledged civilian casualties and stated it is striving to reduce conflicts with the local population. The GHF has countered accusations of mishandling aid statistics, labeling them "false and misleading."
Israel's military operations initiated after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties, continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. The Hamas-run health ministry has reported that at least 57,823 individuals have died in Gaza in the aftermath of the conflict.
