A tragic incident unfolded in Rafah, Gaza, early on a recent morning as a large group of Palestinians gathered near the Al-Alam roundabout. This crowd had assembled around 4:30 AM local time, close to an aid center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Just before dawn, Israeli tanks arrived and opened fire on the crowd.
Eyewitness Mr. Ghareeb reported that the dead and injured lay on the ground for an extended period. Rescue teams were unable to reach the area because it was under Israeli control. This situation forced local residents to resort to using donkey carts to transport the victims to a nearby field hospital.
At the Red Cross field hospital, a doctor confirmed that they had received 15 bodies and around 50 injured individuals. Efforts were underway to transfer the casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for more comprehensive medical care. Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal later stated that the number of injured had surpassed 100, with at least 10 confirmed deaths. He noted that the casualties resulted from gunfire directed at thousands of civilians by Israeli vehicles.
This incident highlights the severe humanitarian crisis in Rafah, where ongoing Israeli military operations have drastically restricted access to aid and emergency services. On the same day, the World Food Programme reported that desperate civilians in Gaza rushed to aid trucks, reflecting the growing hunger and chaos in the region.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new organization backed by the U.S. and Israel, has been distributing food at specific locations throughout Gaza. This initiative was launched after accusations that Hamas was stealing aid, a claim the group denies. The foundation reported distributing two million meals in just one week, although this figure has not been independently verified.
As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, the need for humanitarian assistance remains critical.