Palestinian civilians seeking essential supplies faced deadly violence from multiple armed groups near an aid distribution site in Rafah's Tal al-Sultan neighborhood on Monday, marking a disturbing escalation in humanitarian access challenges. Eyewitnesses described being targeted by both Israeli soldiers and masked Palestinian gunmen near a facility operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), resulting in six fatalities and ninety-nine injuries according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Survivors reported unprecedented scenes of chaos as armed individuals in civilian attire opened fire on crowds waiting for food assistance. "Initially we mistook them for aid volunteers, but they suddenly began shooting indiscriminately," recounted Hisham Saeed Salem, who narrowly escaped the violence. "Even those holding food boxes were targeted. They robbed us amid the panic." Another witness, Mohammed Sakout, described bullets passing inches from his head as fellow civilians fell behind him.
The incident represents a significant development in Gaza's security landscape, coming days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged arming local clans opposed to Hamas. Witnesses observed the unidentified gunmen operating near Israeli forces and retreating into military-controlled zones afterward. "We've endured Israeli gunfire before, but today revealed gangs working alongside them," Sakout told reporters.
Israeli military officials stated they are investigating the allegations, while the GHF denied operating the Tal al-Sultan site that day. The organization claimed its two functioning distribution points in Rafah's Saudi neighborhood and Wadi Gaza operated "without incident." However, GHF's social media acknowledged closing the Tal al-Sultan center due to "crowd chaos."
This violence continues a deadly pattern surrounding aid distribution since GHF—a U.S.-backed alternative to UN relief efforts—began operations on May 26. Dozens have perished near distribution routes passing through Israeli military zones. While Israel maintains troops only fire at "suspects" ignoring warnings, humanitarian organizations report 127 deaths and 1,287 injuries around aid zones during GHF's two-week operation.
The controversial GHF framework, employing private American security contractors, faces staunch opposition from UN agencies citing violations of humanitarian principles. International aid groups warn that Gaza's 2.1 million residents face catastrophic hunger despite Israel's partial easing of its three-month total blockade. The U.S. and Israel defend the GHF model as preventing aid diversion to Hamas—an allegation the militant group denies.
Monday's bloodshed occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict triggered by Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Gaza's health ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinian fatalities in the subsequent Israeli military campaign.
As conflicting narratives emerge—with victims describing coordinated attacks and authorities denying responsibility—the incident underscores the extreme dangers facing civilians in Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Medical staff at Khan Younis' Nasser hospital treated Mohammed Kabaga for a neck gunshot wound, who described being shot by "masked armed men who were organizing us." With no group claiming responsibility for the militia-style attack, displaced Palestinians now confront lethal threats from multiple armed factions while seeking basic survival necessities.
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