NewsHail
03 Jun 2025
The UN wants an independent investigation into the deaths of Palestinians near a Gaza aid center on Sunday. People were shot while waiting for food in Rafah.
The aid center is run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Some witnesses say Israeli troops fired at them. The Red Cross said 179 people were hurt, and 21 died. The Hamas-run Civil Defence said 31 people were killed.
Israel said its soldiers did not shoot at civilians. GHF also said there were no attacks at its site and called the reports false.
UN leader António Guterres said he was shocked and called for the truth to come out. Israel’s foreign ministry called his words a disgrace.
The Red Cross said most people had gunshot or shrapnel wounds. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said people were shot from many directions. One MSF worker lost his brother in the shooting.
A local journalist told the BBC that tanks came and fired at people near the site. A video shared online seemed to show gunfire, but it could not be verified.
The Israeli military said their troops were not near the aid center. They said Hamas was spreading lies and trying to stop people from getting help.
The IDF also shared drone video showing armed men shooting at civilians. The BBC could not confirm where or when it was taken.
An Israeli officer said soldiers only fired warning shots at suspects 1km away from the center.
The GHF said the reports were full of lies. It said no one was hurt or killed during its work on Sunday.
US ambassador Mike Huckabee said the news was false and dangerous. He blamed Hamas for spreading hate and lies.
On Monday, three more Palestinians were reported killed near the GHF site. The Red Cross said its hospital treated 50 more wounded.
Also on Monday, an Israeli strike hit a house in Jabalia. Officials said 14 people, including six kids, died. Twenty more were missing under the rubble.
Israel said it had hit many targets in Gaza, including tunnels and weapons sites.
Since 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, more than 54,000 people have died in Gaza. Israel said it launched its campaign to free 58 hostages still held in Gaza.
