Genocide in Gaza: The Occupation’s Forces Kill 51 People Waiting for Flour at Aid Distribution Site

The Zionist occupation forces have killed over 51 Palestinians and injured many others after opening fire near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza. The Civil defense agency in Gaza indicated that the gunfire targeted crowds gathered in Khan Younis seeking food assistance, with more than 200 individuals sustaining injuries.

The occupation military acknowledged the reports and stated it is investigating the situation. This incident marks one of the latest and potentially most lethal in a series of shootings occurring almost daily at aid distribution points in Gaza.

Recent casualties in Gaza have primarily been linked to aid delivery efforts rather than direct Israeli strikes on Hamas targets. Eyewitnesses recounted that occupation forces opened fire and shelled an area close to a junction east of Khan Younis, where thousands were hoping to receive flour from a World Food Programme (WFP) site, which also included a nearby community kitchen.

Local journalists and witnesses reported that Israeli drones launched two missiles, followed shortly by artillery fire from an Israeli tank situated approximately 400 to 500 meters from the crowd, resulting in numerous casualties. The gathering occurred near a vital road leading to Bani Suheila, an area that has witnessed sustained Israeli military operations over recent weeks.

Nasser Hospital, the main medical facility operating in the region, has found itself inundated with casualties, so much so that many injured individuals are being treated on the floor due to overcrowding. Video footage of the aftermath, shared widely on social media, originate from the Khan Younis area.

Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency, confirmed that at least 50 people had died, stating, “Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Shortly after, Israeli tanks shelled the area, leading to numerous deaths and injuries.”

The occupation’s army released a statement indicating they had identified a gathering near an aid distribution truck that had become stuck in Khan Younis, close to “IDF” troops. They acknowledged reports of injuries from their fire as the crowd approached and stated that the incident is under review.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported receiving information about a mass casualty event, noting that the recent surge in trauma injuries is primarily due to gunshot wounds. Thanos Gargavanis, a trauma surgeon and emergency officer at WHO, emphasized the correlation between food distribution initiatives and incidents of mass casualties.

Medical staff have repeatedly warned that Nasser Hospital is at risk of being overwhelmed, facing challenges such as a lack of medical supplies and ongoing Israeli evacuation orders in the vicinity. In recent days, the hospital has been managing a near-constant stream of casualties from shootings near aid distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by both Israel and the United States.

Most of the incidents have involved Israeli troops allegedly opening fire, although there have also been reports of local armed groups engaging in gunfire. The IDF’s standard response has been to assert that troops warned individuals not to approach and subsequently fired warning shots when they perceived a threat. Details regarding the incidents remain scarce.

The alternative method of delivering aid to Gaza—approximately 100 trucks permitted daily —has also seen people shot while attempting to reach supplies, highlighting a breakdown in both security and the aid distribution system.

On Monday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Israel for “weaponizing food” and called for a thorough investigation into the shootings. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, lamented that “tragedies go on unabated while attention shifts elsewhere,” highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Despite the gravity of the situation, there appears to be a lack of coordinated efforts from the international community to prevent the ongoing genocide in Gaza.