At least 30 people were killed and more than 115 injured in an Israeli attack near an aid distribution center in Rafah, as per reports from Palestinian news agency WAFA and Hamas linked media. The strike took place near a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization associated with providing relief materials in war-affected Gaza.
The Israeli military has not released any official announcement related to the casualties. The area which has been attacked is part of Southern Gaza where thousands of Palestinians have gathered regularly for food and supplies amid worsening humanitarian crisis.
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation caught in crossfire
The GHF which started operations recently has been assisted by both Israeli and international officials. However, some Palestinians have raised mistrust over its link to Israel and use of biometric data in aid screening.
On the contrary, Israeli officials have defended the measures, stating the checks are done to ensure the aid does not go to individuals connected with Hamas,’’ Israeli authorities stated.
This is not the first time the GHF has been caught in the middle of the war. On May 28, Hamas accused Israel of killing three people and injuring 46 near another GHF aid site, an accusation the organization strongly dismissed.
Warning shots were fired by military for controlling crowd
According to the Israeli military, its soldiers have fired warning shots outside the aid campus to manage the crowd. ‘’Troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound to re-establish control,’’ the ministry said. It also pointed out that the large crowds had devastated the aid distribution zone.