Fatal Israeli Fire Claims Lives Near Gaza Aid Centre

A recent incident in Rafah, Gaza, involving Israeli tank shelling, has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians, fueling criticism of Israel's handling of aid distribution amid escalating tensions. Eyewitness accounts describe horrifying scenes as local civilians attempted to transport victims to hospitals using donkey carts due to restricted access for rescue teams.

At least 15 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli tank shelling and gunfire near an aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, as reported by local medics and residents. Mohammed Ghareeb, a local journalist, relayed to the BBC that thousands of individuals had congregated outside a US-funded humanitarian aid center prior to the incident when Israeli tanks began firing on the crowd.

Footage shared by journalists and activists depicted grim visuals of bodies and injured persons being moved on donkey carts towards a Red Cross field hospital located in the al-Mawasi area, as rescue services struggled to reach the zone, which remains under Israeli control. "The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time," Ghareeb stated, elaborating that residents were compelled to use makeshift methods to transport victims.

A medical official at the Red Cross facility confirmed that 15 deceased individuals and 50 injured had been received, with ongoing efforts to transfer more casualties for treatment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for civil defense, disclosed to AFP that over 100 Palestinians sustained injuries during the attack, underscoring the dire humanitarian circumstances gripping Rafah amid ongoing Israeli military operations.

The chaos surrounding aid distribution is stark; last Saturday, the World Food Programme reported civilians mobbing aid trucks in Gaza as desperation escalates. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new organization backed by the US and Israel, had begun distributing food at designated locations following accusations that Hamas was pilfering aid—a claim that Hamas refutes. They stated that two million meals had been distributed in the past week, although this figure remains unverified by the BBC.

Additionally, the situation unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing US efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has signaled readiness to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners while reiterating the need for a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and continual humanitarian aid flow—demands not included in the current US proposal. The proposal, described by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, as “unacceptable,” is seen as a potential setback in the pursuit of a lasting resolution in the region.