Gaza health workers say four killed by Israeli gunfire near aid centre

19 minutes ago Share Save Sebastian Usher BBC News Reporting from Jerusalem Share Save

Reuters Several deadly incidents have taken place near aid distribution centres in Gaza (file photo)

At least four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they were heading to an aid distribution centre, health workers in Gaza have said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops had directed warning shots after issuing a verbal challenge at a group that was moving towards them and was deemed a threat. It is the latest deadly incident to occur near aid distribution points in Gaza that have been set up by a new organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the US. The IDF said it was aware of reports that people had been injured, adding: “The number… does not align with the information currently held by the IDF.”

The latest incident occurred before dawn near an aid distribution site close to Rafah in the south of Gaza. Palestinian paramedics said they had evacuated four people who were killed, as crowds gathered in the hope the aid centre would open and they could get food. One woman said her husband was shot in the head as he was waiting to collect food for their family. The Israeli army has declared that Palestinians should only move to and from the GHF distribution sites between 06:00 and 18:00 local time – and that at all other times it should be considered an “active combat zone”. The GHF has said it opened three sites on Sunday – one in central Gaza at 06:00 and then two more in Rafah at noon.