At least 36 Palestinians lost their lives early Saturday morning when Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in Gaza, according to reports from the Gaza Health Ministry and medical staff at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
The incident occurred at dawn, as civilians were reportedly making their way toward the area in hopes of accessing much-needed humanitarian assistance. Eyewitnesses and local health officials claim the victims were unarmed individuals seeking aid amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In response, the Israeli military issued a statement asserting that its troops had identified a group of individuals approaching their position approximately one kilometre from an aid distribution center that was not operational at the time. The military said it initially issued verbal warnings and fired warning shots when the group failed to stop, suspecting a potential threat.
This latest incident adds to the mounting civilian casualties in the besieged enclave and has once again drawn international concern over the safety and accessibility of humanitarian aid in Gaza, where food, medicine, and basic supplies remain critically scarce.
