At least 15 Palestinians were killed and over 100 injured early Monday when Israeli tank shelling and gunfire targeted a crowd near a humanitarian aid distribution centre in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to local medics and journalists.
Thousands of civilians had gathered around 4:30 a.m. local time near the US-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution point at Al-Alam roundabout when Israeli tanks reportedly opened fire. Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that the area, under Israeli military control, was inaccessible to emergency services, forcing civilians to transport the wounded on donkey carts to a Red Cross field hospital in the al-Mawasi area.
“Aid seekers lay dead and wounded on the ground for a long time,” Ghareeb said. A doctor at the field hospital confirmed receiving 15 bodies and 50 injured people, with efforts underway to transfer some to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal later reported over 100 wounded.
This tragic incident underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis in Rafah, where recent Israeli operations have crippled access to essential aid. Although Israel recently lifted its total blockade on Gaza, the desperate need for food and medical care continues to trigger chaotic scenes. Over the weekend, the World Food Programme reported that starving civilians rushed aid trucks across Gaza.
The GHF, a newly launched US- and Israel-backed body, claims to have distributed two million meals this week, though this has not been independently verified. Israel established the foundation after accusing Hamas of intercepting aid—allegations the group denies.
The killings come amid renewed US efforts to broker a ceasefire. Hamas responded to the latest proposal by offering to release 10 living and 18 dead Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while insisting on a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and guaranteed humanitarian access demands not included in the current deal.
As the international community watches closely, the bloodshed near Rafah’s aid centre highlights the urgent need for a lasting solution to end the suffering of Gaza’s civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have yet to issue a response to the incident.
