More than 20 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near Gaza aid sites, Hamas-run ministry says

At least 22 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire near aid distribution centers in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas. These centers are run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization supported by the United States. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have said they are investigating the reports. The aid centers were opened after Israel partially lifted a blockade that had lasted for three months. The United Nations has said that the blockade pushed the people of Gaza to the edge of starvation. UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Israel's military actions, saying they cause terrible suffering to Palestinians in Gaza. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, he accused Israel of using food as a weapon and called for a full investigation into the attacks near the aid sites. UN agencies have refused to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The IDF has admitted in the past that its troops have fired near aid centers. On Monday, the Gaza health ministry reported that 20 people were killed at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation center in al-Alam, a part of the southern city of Rafah. Two more were killed at another site in the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza. Many of the injured and dead were taken to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, where families gathered to mourn. Many were buried soon after, following Islamic traditions. Dr. Ahmed Alfara, who works at Nasser hospital, told Reuters that the aid distribution system had completely failed. He said no one was able to get the aid they needed and called for UN agencies and NGOs to take over the distribution again. Many of the casualties had gunshot wounds, including some to the head. Ahmed Fayad, who tried to get food from the aid center on Monday, described the operation as a 'trap. ' He said people went there hoping to get food for their children but ended up in danger. He warned others not to go there. The al-Alam center has been the site of several deadly incidents since the new Israeli-backed food distribution system began. Since May 26, when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operating, the health ministry says at least 300 people have been killed and more than 2,600 wounded near aid distribution sites. The IDF disputes these numbers and says Hamas is responsible for much of the violence. Israel does not allow international news organizations, including the BBC, into Gaza, making it difficult to verify events. It has been 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. That attack killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 55,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the health ministry there.