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Palestinians carry the body of Reem Al-Akhras who was killed while heading to a Gaza aid hub, during her funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Alamy Stock Photo
Palestine
Israeli-backed aid sites in Gaza to close for one day as UN calls attacks at hubs a 'war crime'
At least 27 people have died after the Israeli military opened fire on “suspects” who moved towards them at the sites.
LAST UPDATE | 3 Jun 2025
ISRAELI-BACKED AID group Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will close its centres in the territory tomorrow for one day for updates and organisational improvement works after at least 27 people were killed after gathering for life-saving supplies.
Gaza’s health ministry today said 27 people were shot by the Israeli military at aid distribution sites run by the foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US. UN-backed aid groups and private NGOs have refused to cooperate with the group.
The UN today labelled the attacks by the Israeli military as a “war crime” and called for an independent investigation to be carried out into the “deadly” incidents, which have happened for three consecutive days.
In a statement on Facebook, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it was to close its sites for 24 hours for “update, organization, and efficiency improvement work”. Entry will be prohibited until Thursday.
It comes as the UN has said the entire Gazan population is at risk of famine. Aid is only trickling in after Israel partially lifted a more than two-month total blockade, and the UN has reported looting of its trucks and warehouses.
‘Grave breach of international law’
The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk today said: “Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable.”
“Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.
“For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured.”
It is the latest in a series of fatal incidents at aid distribution centres run by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli and US-backed private organisation that the UN and NGOs in Gaza have refused to deal with.
“Twenty-seven people were killed and more than 90 injured in the massacre targeting civilians who were waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of Rafah,” said civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal.
He told the AFP news agency the deaths occurred “when Israeli forces opened fire with tanks and drones”.
Earlier today, the director general of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said that 24 people have been killed and 37 wounded “as a result of Israeli forces opening fire on crowds of civilians” waiting for aid at a roundabout near Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Most of those who arrived at the hospital had suffered gunshot wounds, the director said.
The Israeli army has said its troops fired on “suspects” who moved towards them.
Last Tuesday, one person was killed and another 48 were injured, mostly by Israeli gunfire, at another aid distribution hub run by the GHF.
On Thursday, four people were killed when a crowd of desperate people stormed a UN World Food Programme warehouse.
Over the weekend, 31 people were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food from the GHF near Rafah, according to the civil defence agency.
The US State Department said GHF was “succeeding in getting the meals distributed”.
The Israeli military (IDF) has said this morning that its troops “carried out warning fire” after that “identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes”.
“After the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,” the military said on X, adding that reports of casualties “are being looked into”.
“IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometre away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects, who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.”
Witness accounts
Rania al-Astal, 30, said she had gone with her husband to try to get food.
“The shooting began intermittently around 5 am. Every time people approached Al-Alam roundabout, they were fired upon,” she told the AFP news agency.
“But people didn’t care and rushed forward all at once – that’s when the army began firing heavily.”
Mohammed al-Shaer, 44, who was also at the scene, said the crowd had just set off towards the aid centre when “suddenly, the Israeli army fired shots into the air, then began shooting directly at the people”.
“A helicopter and quadcopters (drones) started firing at the crowd to prevent them from approaching the tank barrier. There were injuries and deaths,” he told AFP.
“I didn’t reach the centre, and we didn’t get any food.”
The GHF said operations at its site went ahead safely this morning, but added it was aware the military “is investigating whether a number of civilians were injured after moving beyond the designated safe corridor and into a closed military zone”.
“This was an area well beyond our secure distribution site and operations area,” it added, advising “all civilians to remain in the safe corridor when travelling to our distribution sites”.
The GHF has recently opened four aid distribution centres in southern and central Gaza, and says it has distributed more than seven million meals.
The UN and NGOs have refused to cooperate with the GHF, saying the project contravenes humanitarian principles and appears designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
The GHF chief quit his role just before it began operations, citing similar concerns.
Yesterday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into the killings at the weekend.
“I am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza yesterday. It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,” Guterres said in a statement.
“I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.”
After Sunday’s attack, the head of UNRWA, the UN’s main aid agency for Palestinians, said aid distribution in Gaza has become “a death trap”.
At least 4,201 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas on 18 March, taking the war’s overall death toll to 54,470, most of whom are civilians.
Israel has been accused of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza in a case taken against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice.
Last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin also said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
International pressure on Israel has continued to grow in recent weeks, with even some of its closest allies criticising its campaign, although practical measures like sanctions have not been taken.
With reporting from AFP and Muiris Ó Cearbhaill
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