A deadly Gaza aid shooting has raised fresh concerns over humanitarian safety, after the Red Cross confirmed 21 deaths and nearly 180 injuries near an aid center in Rafah. Conflicting accounts from Hamas, Israel, and aid groups have clouded the incident, deepening the crisis in the war-torn enclave.
Red Cross Confirms Mass Casualties
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported a “mass casualty influx” at its field hospital in Rafah early Sunday. The facility received 179 wounded, including women and children. Twenty-one were declared dead on arrival, with most suffering gunshot or shrapnel wounds. This marks the highest single-incident toll since the hospital’s establishment.
Disputed Narratives
Hamas blamed Israeli gunfire for the deaths near the aid site. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied firing at civilians, stating an initial inquiry found no shots were fired near the distribution point. The IDF released drone footage showing armed men allegedly attacking civilians, but the BBC could not independently verify the video.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the aid center, denied any casualties occurred at its site, calling the reports “false information” spread by Hamas.
Read: UN: Gaza Now the Hungriest Place on Earth
Witnesses and Local Accounts
Gaza journalist Mohammed Ghareeb told the BBC that Israeli tanks opened fire on crowds near the Al-Alam roundabout around 4:30am. He said victims were left on the ground for hours before being transported by donkey carts due to access restrictions.
Doctors at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed receiving nearly 200 injured. British medical charity staff reported many sustained direct gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Humanitarian Situation Worsens
The incident underscores the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rafah. Limited aid access, recent Israeli operations, and growing hunger have triggered panic. The World Food Programme noted civilians rushing trucks as desperation rises.
The ongoing war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, has claimed over 54,000 lives in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
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