One dead, 48 injured after Israelis open fire at Gaza aid hub

Wed, 28 May, 2025 - 09:44

Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Jamey Keaten, AP

One person has been killed and another 48 were injured when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians overrunning an aid distribution site, Gaza's health ministry has said.

Earlier, a UN official said 47 Palestinians were injured, mostly by gunfire, at the hub outside Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah.

Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Palestinian territories, said it appeared that Israeli army fire had caused most of the injuries.

On Tuesday, crowds of Palestinians overwhelmed the site, which was set up by an Israeli and US-backed foundation.

The crowd broke through fences, and an Associated Press journalist heard Israeli tank and gun fire, and saw a military helicopter firing flares.

The distribution hub outside Rafah was opened the day before by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been slated by Israel to take over aid operations.

The UN and other humanitarian organisations have rejected the new system, saying it will not be able to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population.

They have also warned of the risk of friction between Israeli troops and people seeking supplies.

Palestinians have become desperate for food after nearly three months of Israeli blockade pushed Gaza to the brink of famine.