Wounded Palestinians are brought to the Nasser-Hospital<\/p>\n
Israeli<\/a> forces have committed a new massacre targeting Palestinian<\/a> aid seekers in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 32 people and wounding scores more, the Palestinian\u00a0health ministry said on Sunday.<\/p>\n According to eyewitnesses and local officials, Israeli troops opened fire directly on civilians gathered at two US-Israeli food distribution points in Rafah and central Gaza.<\/p>\n At least 31 people were killed in Rafah and one in central Gaza, while over 200 were wounded, many of them critically.<\/p>\n The health ministry accused Israel of using the new aid mechanism as a \u201ctrap for mass killings\u201d and a tool for \u201cthe forced displacement of Gaza\u2019s population.\u201d<\/p>\n It added that those killed in the \u201cmassacre\u201d had single gunshot wounds to the head or chest, indicating clear intent to kill.<\/p>\n In Rafah, thousands were instructed to queue some 500 metres from the US distribution point at the Al-Alam roundabout, local journalist Mohammed Ghareeb told Middle East Eye.<\/p>\n As crowds approached the area, Israeli forces rained down bullets on them from every direction,\u00a0eyewitnesses said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was standing among the crowd, but when people started rushing toward the distribution point, I couldn\u2019t move with them because there were hundreds pushing forward,\u201d Marwa al-Naouq told MEE.<\/p>\n \u201cThen a quadcopter appeared and began firing at them. After that, the Israeli army opened fire directly on the crowd, and American security forces fired tear gas canisters.<\/p>\n \u201cDozens were killed and injured as people ran in every direction, trying to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n Marwan al-Hems, director of field hospitals in Gaza, described the scene as a \u201cmassacre and a slaughter”.<\/p>\n \u201cThe occupation targeted hungry people as if these aid distribution centres were distributing death instead,\u201d he told MEE.<\/p>\n Southern Gaza hospitals were overwhelmed, with patients lining hallways and lying on floors due to a lack of beds and medical supplies, Hems said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe tried to save as many as we could, but we lost some due to a shortage of blood,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Hamas accused Israel of weaponising aid, saying the food distribution system had become part of a broader campaign of genocide.<\/p>\n The Israeli military claimed it was \u201cunaware of injuries caused by [Israeli army] troops.\u201d<\/p>\n In both Rafah and central Gaza, eyewitnesses described the incidents as \u201cambushes\u201d carried out by Israeli forces.<\/p>\n In coordination with American security personnel working for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), starving civilians were instructed in the early hours to go to a designated point near the Wadi Gaza Bridge, ostensibly to receive aid.<\/p>\n Instead, they were met with direct gunfire, according to the Gaza-based Government Media Office.<\/p>\n Many remain \u201ctrapped under continuous gunfire in the vicinity of the aid centre,\u201d the office reported.<\/p>\n A similar scene unfolded in Rafah, where thousands had gathered overnight to receive food.<\/p>\n \u201cThey told us to go to this humanitarian zone to receive food – then they killed us,\u201d Arafat Siyam, a survivor, told MEE.<\/p>\n Siyam\u2019s brother was killed. The two had arrived at the aid site at 11 PM Friday, hoping to bring back food for their starving children.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Americans are lying to us. Since when have they cared about humanitarian work?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey call it a humanitarian point then kill us there.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the media office, Israeli forces have killed at least 49 Palestinians and injured 305 others at GHF-run distribution centres since the operation began on 27 May 2025 .<\/p>\n GHF, a scandal-plagued US organisation backed by Israel, was launched to bypass the UN’s aid infrastructure in Gaza.<\/p>\n Senior humanitarian officials have condemned the scheme , saying Israel should stop blocking the UN-led system and allow aid to flow without obstruction.<\/p>\n Overall, Israeli forces have killed over 54,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since\u00a0October 2023, including at least 16,000 children.<\/p>\n Additionally, over 10,000 people are missing and presumed dead, while nearly 120,000 others have been wounded.<\/p>\nAmbushed<\/strong><\/h2>\n