6 reportedly killed by IDF fire while waiting for humanitarian aid in Rafah

Media outlets in Gaza report that six people were killed and dozens more injured this morning by IDF gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid distribution in western Rafah. A food distribution center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is active in the area.

Additional reports indicate that in central Gaza, where another aid center is located, around 22 people were injured while waiting for assistance. No footage from the incidents has been released so far.

The IDF told the Times of Israel that it is not aware of such an incident in recent hours.

Yesterday, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that 450 people have been killed while waiting for humanitarian aid since the new distribution mechanism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operating.

The Red Cross told The Times of Israel that between May 27 and June 19, approximately 1,874 casualties arrived at the field hospital it operates in Rafah, 100 of whom were declared dead. According to the organization, about 90% of the patients arrived during mass casualty events, and most reported to medical staff that they had been injured while trying to access humanitarian aid at or near distribution centers.

The US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says that it opens only two of its four aid distribution sites today, distributing 1.1 million meals in 19,200 boxes, according to its own figures.

“Our delivery numbers are lower than normal as we adjust our supplies and deliveries in response to the ongoing conflict with Iran and for delivery site maintenance for safety reasons,” says GHF interim director John Acree in a statement. “We will continue to provide daily food deliveries to the populations and hope to return to our higher delivery numbers very soon.”