A tragic incident in southern Gaza on Tuesday saw 27 people killed when Israeli troops opened fire near an aid site, an event that has spurred calls for immediate independent investigations from the UN. This deadly episode, currently under Israeli military investigation, underscores the extreme dangers faced by Gazans desperately seeking food and humanitarian assistance.
The incident contributed to the decision by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group, to temporarily close its aid distribution facilities on Wednesday. The GHF’s announcement highlights the perilous environment for aid delivery, with the Israeli army also warning that roads leading to distribution centers are “considered combat zones.”
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher condemned these “horrifying scenes,” stating that the deaths of Gazans seeking food aid are a direct result of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of essential survival items. He lamented that “no-one should have to risk their life to feed their children.”
Echoing UN chief Antonio Guterres, Fletcher stressed that these are “not isolated incidents” and that “perpetrators must be held accountable.” He further urged for the opening of all crossings into Gaza, the lifting of restrictions on aid, and the implementation of a ceasefire, stressing the UN’s capacity and readiness to deliver life-saving assistance at scale to the besieged territory.