30 Palestinians Killed, Over 100 Injured as Israeli Forces Open Fire Near Gaza Aid Centre in Rafah
At least 30 Palestinians were killed and more than 115 others injured early Sunday morning after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire near a US-funded aid distribution centre in Rafah, southern Gaza. The incident occurred as thousands of civilians had gathered seeking desperately needed humanitarian assistance, further exacerbating the dire conditions in the besieged enclave.
A local Palestinian journalist reported that Israeli tanks opened fire on the crowd that had assembled near the aid facility. Harrowing scenes emerged with the dead and wounded being transported from the site using donkey carts, a stark illustration of the collapsed infrastructure and overwhelming humanitarian crisis in the region. So far, there has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military on this specific incident.
Hamas swiftly condemned the event, accusing Israeli forces operating in Rafah of committing “a new massacre against hungry civilians.” The group labelled the aid distribution sites as “mass death traps, not humanitarian relief points.”
This deadly episode unfolded just hours after Hamas delivered its response to the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal. While a senior Hamas official characterized the reply as “positive and responsible,” US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, dismissed it as “totally unacceptable” and stated it “only takes us backward.”
Hamas reiterated its long-standing demand for a permanent ceasefire as a cornerstone of any agreement. A source within the group’s political bureau, cited by AFP, added that Hamas also insisted on a “full Israeli withdrawal” from the Gaza Strip. These conditions have consistently been points of contention with Israel.
The diplomatic back-and-forth follows a stern warning from Israel on Friday, telling Hamas to either accept the proposed deal and release the hostages held in Gaza “or be annihilated.”
The aid distribution centre in Rafah where the incident occurred is reportedly run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization backed by both the US and Israel. Eyewitness accounts suggest Israeli forces opened fire as people moved towards the distribution point. The UN and other major aid organizations have reportedly refused to work with this new aid distribution system, citing concerns that it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israeli control over aid recipients and potentially forcing further displacement.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in Rafah where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge, remains catastrophic. UN agencies have warned of imminent famine, with severe disruptions to aid deliveries and a collapsing healthcare system.
Negotiations for a ceasefire have been ongoing, with the current US-backed proposal reportedly envisioning a 60-day truce and an exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas’s insistence on a permanent end to the war and complete Israeli withdrawal continues to be a major hurdle. Israeli officials have maintained their goal of dismantling Hamas and ensuring the return of all hostages.
