Israeli tanks kill 59 people in Gaza crowd trying to get food aid, medics say

Israeli tanks opened fire on a crowd seeking aid from trucks in Gaza on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 individuals, as reported by medics, marking one of the deadliest events amid escalating violence as desperate locals fight for food.

A video posted on social media displayed approximately twelve disfigured bodies lying in a street in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military, engaged in conflict with Hamas-led Palestinian fighters in Gaza since October 2023, admitted to conducting fire in the region and stated it was investigating the event.

According to witnesses interviewed by Reuters, Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at a group of thousands who had congregated on the main eastern road in Khan Younis, hoping to receive food from trucks delivering aid that utilize the route.

“All of a sudden, they let us move forward and made everyone gather, and then shells started falling, tank shells,” said Alaa, an eyewitness, interviewed by Reuters at Nasser Hospital, where wounded victims lay sprawled on the floor and in corridors due to the lack of space.

“No one is looking at these people with mercy. The people are dying, they are being torn apart, to get food for their children. Look at these people, all these people are torn to get flour to feed their children.”

Palestinian medics said at least 59 people were killed and 221 wounded in the incident, at least 20 of them in critical condition. Casualties were being rushed into the hospital in civilian cars, rickshaws and donkey carts. It was the worst death toll in a single day since aid resumed in Gaza in May.

In a statement, the Israeli military said: “Earlier today, a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area.

“The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd’s approach. The details of the incident are under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.”

The health ministry reported that 397 Palestinians, who were among those seeking food assistance, had died, and over 3,000 were injured since the end of May. The event marked the most recent in a series of almost daily mass killings of Palestinians attempting to receive aid during the three weeks since Israel partially eased a complete blockade on the area it had enforced for nearly three months.

Israel has been directing a significant portion of the aid it is currently permitting into Gaza via a newly established group supported by the U.S. and Israel, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which runs several distribution centers in regions secured by Israeli troops.

The United Nations deems the system insufficient, risky, and a breach of humanitarian neutrality principles. Israel claims it is essential to stop Hamas fighters from redirecting aid, a claim that Hamas refutes. Authorities in Gaza report that hundreds of Palestinians have died while attempting to access GHF locations.