Deadly Crush at Gaza Aid Distribution Site

At least 20 people were killed in a crush at a US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in southern Gaza. The incident occurred amid a chaotic and dangerous surge at the site, with conflicting reports on the cause of the crush. The GHF blamed 'armed and affiliated with Hamas' individuals for fomenting unrest, while Hamas denied the claim and accused the GHF of trying to 'cover up' a crime. The UN human rights office has expressed concern over the incident and the broader context of humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza.

The Israeli government is criticizing international organizations and the United Nations for not distributing thousands of pallets of aid that have already entered Gaza, while simultaneously calling for more aid. The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) claims that the aid is waiting to be picked up and distributed by U.N. agencies and international organizations. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) attributes the difficulty in delivering humanitarian services to a 'restrictive operational environment' in Gaza, citing access challenges and coordination issues. Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has successfully delivered over 76 million meals in Gaza, but faces criticism from the international community.

A deadly crush occurred at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Gaza, resulting in 21 deaths, mostly due to suffocation. The incident happened after GHF implemented a new system using red and green flags to indicate site openings, replacing social media announcements. Witnesses described systemic failures in communication and crowd control, with people rushing to the site after seeing Israeli military vehicles withdraw. GHF employees allegedly used gunfire and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, leading to a stampede. The incident has raised concerns about GHF's protocols and the safety of its aid distribution methods.

At least 20 people were killed in Khan Younis, Gaza, near a distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israel and US-backed aid group. The incident involved a surge driven by agitators, resulting in 19 people being trampled and one stabbed. The GHF claimed that elements within the crowd, affiliated with Hamas, deliberately fomented the unrest. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported 21 deaths, including 15 due to suffocation from tear gas. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of GHF's aid distribution model, which has been condemned by the UN as 'inherently unsafe' and a violation of humanitarian impartiality standards. Since GHF's operations began, over 875 people have been killed while receiving aid.