32 Palestinians killed trying to reach food distribution hubs, Gaza authorities say
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Israel-Hamas: 32 Palestinians shot dead trying to reach US group’s food distribution sites, Gaza authorities say
Israeli troops opened fire on crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a US and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation. Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around three kilometres from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis. Most people were shot in the head and chest, according to local health officials and witnesses. GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours” Israel’s army said that it had no specific comment on specific strikes, but said it had struck around 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Palestinian population of more than 2 million are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May.
The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation.
Palestinians who were injured during a food distribution at a center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,. (AP)
While GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs.
GHF’s four sites are in military-controlled zones.
Israel’s army, which isn’t at the sites but secures them from a distance, said Saturday that it fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance.
It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed.
GHF said that there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”
Witnesses allege indiscriminate fire
Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around three kilometres from a GHF aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Mahmoud Mokeimar said that he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire.
“The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,” he said. He said that he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, said that troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5am and 6am.
“They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground.
Sanaa al-Jaberi said that there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run.
“Is this food or death? Why? They don’t talk with us, they only shoot us,” she said, and showed off her empty bag.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said that it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of meters or yards north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said.
Boxes and bags of humanitarian aid delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. (AP)
Dr. Mohamed Saker, the head of Nasser’s nursing department, said that it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest.
“The situation is difficult and tragic,” he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher.
Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said that two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families.
In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that 12 people were killed in an airstrike including police official Omar Aqel. Two children, including an infant, and five women – all relatives of Aqel –were among the dead.
Al-Awda Hospital said that it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij, and that another strike on a group of people along Salah El Din street in central Gaza killed a child.
Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four people, according to the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service. A strike on a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed another four people, the service said.
Israel’s army had no comment on specific strikes, but said that it had struck around 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day.
Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli army airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. (AP)
Humanitarian crisis
Gaza’s population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at GHF sites is often chaotic.
Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF.
Hamas triggered the 21-month war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain, but fewer than half are thought to be alive.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many militants are among the dead. The ministry, which says more than half of the dead have been women and children, is part of the Hamas government. But the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs.
“After 652 days, it is time to do what is right for Israel: Bring all 50 hostages home and end this war,” Efrat Machikawa, a relative of released hostage Gadi Moses, told the weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
Thousands of people later marched to the local branch of the US Embassy to demand a ceasefire deal.
32 Palestinians shot dead trying to reach U.S. group’s food distribution sites, Gaza authorities say
Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza. At least 32 people were killed, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The foundation says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, but witnesses say that Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. Four of the foundation’s sites are in military-controlled zones, but Israel says it only fires warning shots if crowds get too close to its forces. The U.N. and Israel seek to replace the traditional U-N.-led aid distribution system in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The United Nations denies the allegation and has no comment on specific strikes. The Israeli military said it had struck some 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day and killed “terror militants’’
Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials.
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The U.S. and Israel seek to replace the traditional U.N.-led aid distribution system in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The United Nations denies the allegation.
While the foundation says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say that Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. Four of the foundation’s sites are in military-controlled zones.
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Israel’s army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, says it only fires warning shots if crowds get too close to its forces. The military on Saturday said it fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed.
In a statement, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, “We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and [during] early morning hours.”
Indiscriminate fire alleged
Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed in the Teina area, about two miles from a foundation aid distribution center near the southern city of Khan Yunis.
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Mahmoud Mokeimar said he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, then opened fire.
“The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,” he said. He said he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, said troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones. He said the shooting happened between 5 and 6 a.m. The foundation had called on people not to approach before 6 a.m. Saturday, citing potential military activities.
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“They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground.
Sanaa al-Jaberi said there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. “Is this food or death? Why? They don’t talk with us, they only shoot us,” she said, and showed off her empty bag.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis said it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of yards north of another Gaza Humanitarian Foundation hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed the toll.
Dr. Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser’s nursing department, said it received 70 wounded people. He told the Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest.
“The situation is difficult and tragic,” he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher.
Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families.
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In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said 12 people were killed in an airstrike. The hospital and Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Omar Aqel, a local police official, was killed. Two children, including an infant, and five women — all relatives of Aqel — were among the dead.
Al-Awda Hospital said it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij. Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four, according to the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service. A strike that hit a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed four, the service said.
Israel’s army had no comment on specific strikes but said it had struck some 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day and killed militants and targeted “terror infrastructure” in northern Gaza and Gaza City.
Humanitarian crisis
Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites is often chaotic. Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by the foundation.
In videos obtained recently by the AP, foundation contractors are seen using tear gas and stun grenades to keep crowds behind metal fences or force them to disperse. Gunshots can be heard.
Hamas triggered the 21-month war when it stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
Advertisement
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced nearly all of Gaza’s residents and caused widespread destruction. The ministry does not say how many militants are among the dead, but it says more than half of those killed were women and children.
The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs.
“After 652 days, it is time to do what is right for Israel: Bring all 50 hostages home and end this war,” Efrat Machikawa, a relative of released hostage Gadi Moses, said at Saturday’s weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
Thousands of people later marched to the local branch of the U.S. Embassy to demand a ceasefire deal, with many holding posters of hostages.
West Bank church attack
In the occupied West Bank, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian Christian village, Taybeh, where residents say extremist Israeli settlers set fire to the Church of St. George on July 9.
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Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, condemned the attack.
“To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship — it’s an act of terror and it’s a crime,” he said.
The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence since the war in Gaza began. Palestinians say Israeli security forces have done little to stop the violence, and few settlers have been punished.
Shurafa and Magdy write for the Associated Press and reported from Deir al Balah and Cairo, respectively.
At least 32 Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire near Gaza aid sites, say reports
Shooting occurred near hubs operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched operations in May. Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 3km (2 miles) from a GHF aid distribution centre near the southern city of Khan Younis. The GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites, adding: ‘We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours’ Israel’s army said on Saturday it had fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops.
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched operations in May.
The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation.
While the GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs.
GHF’s four sites are in military-controlled zones. Israel’s army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, said on Saturday it had fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance.
It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. The GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites, adding: “We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”
Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed around 3km (2 miles) from a GHF aid distribution centre near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Mahmoud Mokeimar said he was walking with a large number of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, then opened fire.
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May (AP)
“The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,” he said. He said he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, said troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5am and 6am.
“They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Mr Aker said. He said he saw many casualties on the ground.
Sanaa al-Jaberi said there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. “Is this food or death? Why? They don’t talk with us, they only shoot us,” she said, and showed off her empty bag.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said.
Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser’s nursing department, said it received 70 wounded people. He said that most people were shot in the head and chest.
“The situation is difficult and tragic,” he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor.
Israeli troops fatally shoot 32 Palestinians trying to reach aid sites: Gaza officials
Israeli troops fatally shoot 32 Palestinians trying to reach aid sites: Gaza officials. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched operations in May. The GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians. But local health officials and witnesses say that Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. Israel’s army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, says it only fires warning shots if crowds get too close to its forces. The military on Saturday said it fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed. Amnesty International: GHF uses a militarized aid mechanism that enables Israel to use starvation as a weapon of war and inflict genocide against Palestinians. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is ‘inherently unsafe’
The Associated Press | Posted: July 19, 2025 6:54 PM | Last Updated: 11 hours ago
‘They encircled us and started firing directly at us,’ says witness
Image | 2225049842 Caption: Palestinians grieve over the body of a man killed at a food distribution point near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Saturday. Israeli troops opened fire toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. (AFP/Getty Images) Load Image Open Image in New Tab (external link)
Israeli troops opened fire on Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials.
The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched operations in May. The United States and Israel seek to replace the traditional United Nations-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation.
While the GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say that Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs. GHF’s four sites are in military-controlled zones.
Israel’s army, which is not at the sites but secures them from a distance, says it only fires warning shots if crowds get too close to its forces. The military on Saturday said it fired warning shots near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after a group of suspects approached troops and ignored calls to keep their distance. It said the incident occurred overnight when the distribution site was closed.
In a statement, the GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites and added, “We have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”
WATCH | Amnesty International slams GHF, likens operation to ‘animal pen’: Media Video | CBC News : ‘Like an animal pen’: Amnesty International slams Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution Caption: According to a new Amnesty International report, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a U.S.- and Israel-backed group that took over aid distribution in Gaza over a month ago — uses a militarized aid mechanism that enables Israel to use starvation as a weapon of war and inflict genocide against Palestinians. Budour Hassan of Amnesty International says those on the ground describe acquiring aid as a ‘harrowing’ endeavour. Open Full Embed in New Tab (external link) Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages.
Most of Saturday’s deaths occurred as Palestinians massed in the Teina area, about three kilometres from a GHF aid distribution centre near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Mahmoud Mokeimar said he was walking with masses of people, mostly young men, toward the hub. Troops fired warning shots, then opened fire.
“The occupation opened fire at us indiscriminately,” he said. He said he saw at least three motionless bodies on the ground and many wounded people fleeing.
Akram Aker, another witness, said troops fired machine-guns mounted on tanks and drones. He said the shooting happened between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. The GHF had called on people not to approach before 6 a.m. Saturday, citing potential military activities.
WATCH | GHF aid operation ‘is killing people,’ says United Nations chief: Media Video | UN chief says U.S.-backed Gaza aid operation ‘is killing people’ Caption: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is ‘inherently unsafe,’ accusing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation of militarizing aid and forcing displacement. Open Full Embed in New Tab (external link) Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages.
“They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Aker said, adding he saw many casualties on the ground.
Sanaa al-Jaberi said there was shooting after the site opened as people seeking aid broke into a run. “Is this food or death? Why? They don’t talk with us, they only shoot us,” she said, and showed her empty bag.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received 25 bodies. Seven other people, including one woman, were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of another GHF hub in Rafah, the hospital said. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed the toll.
Image | 2225049828 Caption: People injured at a food distribution point receive medical treatment at a hospital in Khan Younis on Saturday. Nasser Hospital said it received 25 bodies after the reported shooting by Israeli soldiers. (AFP/Getty Images) Load Image Open Image in New Tab (external link)
Dr. Mohamed Saker, head of Nasser’s nursing department, said it received 70 wounded people. He told The Associated Press that most people were shot in the head and chest.
“The situation is difficult and tragic,” he said, adding that the facility lacks medical supplies. Some of the wounded, including a child, were treated on the floor. One boy stood patiently, holding up a blood bag for someone on a stretcher.
Meanwhile, Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service in northern Gaza, said two people were killed in Gaza City when an airstrike hit a tent in a camp sheltering displaced families.
Image | 2225061497 Caption: A Palestinian youth carries a child, who was injured by an Israeli strike on an apartment at the Nuseirat refugee camp, into Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza on Saturday. The hospital said 12 people were killed in the airstrikes. (Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images) Load Image Open Image in New Tab (external link)
In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said 12 people were killed in an airstrike. The hospital and Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Omar Aqel, a local police official, was killed. Two children, including an infant, and five women — all relatives of Aqel — were among the dead.
Al-Awda Hospital said it also received two people killed by an Israeli strike on a group of people in Bureij. Another strike on a house in the Gaza City neighbourhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least four, according to the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service. A strike that hit a cart in Tal al-Hawa in northern Gaza killed four, the service said.
Israel’s army had no comment on specific strikes but said it had hit some 90 targets throughout Gaza over the past day and killed militants and targeted “terror infrastructure” in northern Gaza and Gaza City.
Humanitarian crisis
Gaza’s more than two million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Distribution at the GHF sites is often chaotic. Boxes of food are stacked on the ground and crowds surge in to grab whatever they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF.
In videos obtained recently by the AP, GHF contractors are seen using tear gas and stun grenades to keep crowds behind metal fences or force them to disperse. Gunshots can be heard.
Image | 2225055304 Caption: People scramble to obtain food at a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday. Gaza’s more than two million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. (Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images) Load Image Open Image in New Tab (external link)
Hamas triggered the 21-month war when it stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says the majority of those killed are women and children, and nearly all of Gaza’s population has been displaced by the widespread destruction.
Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs.
Israeli settlers reportedly burn West Bank church
In the occupied West Bank, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian Christian village, Taybeh, where residents say extremist Israeli settlers set fire to the Church of St. George on July 9.
Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, condemned the attack.
“To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship — it’s an act of terror and it’s a crime,” he said.
The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence since the war in Gaza began. Palestinians say Israeli security forces have done little to stop the violence, and few settlers have been punished.