RAFAH, GAZA STRIP – At least 26 Palestinians have been killed and 150 injured in a devastating incident near an aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, after Israeli tanks reportedly opened fire on a crowd of thousands gathered for humanitarian assistance. Rescuers and medics described scenes of chaos and horror, with bodies and wounded individuals left on the ground as emergency teams struggled to reach the area under Israeli control.
The tragic event unfolded near the Al-Alam roundabout in western Rafah, close to an aid center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new U.S. and Israel-backed organization distributing food in the besieged enclave. Local journalist Mohammed Ghareeb, speaking from Rafah, told the BBC that thousands of desperate Palestinians had converged on the site around 4:30 AM local time when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the assembled crowd.
“The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time,” Ghareeb recounted. “Rescue crews could not access the area, which is under Israeli control. This forced residents to use donkey carts to transport victims to the field hospital.”
The Red Cross field hospital in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah confirmed the grim toll of 26 fatalities and 150 injured, with efforts underway to transfer the casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, one of the few remaining functioning hospitals in the region. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defence, corroborated the reports, telling AFP news agency that over 100 people were wounded “due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens.”
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, 40, stated he was about 300 meters from the military when the firing began. “There were many martyrs, including women,” he said, recalling seeing many people with gunshot wounds and a young man who died at the scene that they were unable to help. Abdullah Barbakh, 58, described “chaos, screaming, and overcrowding,” stating, “The army opened fire from drones and tanks. Chaos broke out, and the area was filled with martyrs and wounded. I don’t understand why they call people to the aid centers and then open fire on them.”
The Israeli military (IDF) has yet to provide a detailed response to the incident, stating to the BBC that they were “unaware of injuries caused by IDF (army) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site. The matter is still under review.” The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which reportedly distributed 16 truckloads of aid “without incident” earlier on Sunday, has also not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the reported deaths, dismissing what it referred to as “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos.”
This incident highlights the dire humanitarian crisis engulfing Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely hampered aid access and emergency services. It follows previous reports of chaos and casualties at aid distribution points, where desperate, hungry crowds often overwhelm distribution efforts. The World Food Programme (WFP) recently noted that hunger and desperation are creating chaotic scenes around aid trucks in Gaza.
The deaths come as diplomatic efforts by the U.S. to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to falter. Hamas reportedly submitted a response to the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, reiterating demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and continuous aid flow – conditions that the U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff labeled as “totally unacceptable.”
As rescue efforts continue and the international community grapples with the devastating impact of this latest tragedy, questions loom over the safety protocols surrounding aid distribution in Gaza and the devastating toll on civilians seeking basic necessities. The incident further intensifies calls for greater protection for civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access to the war-ravaged enclave.