IDF admits killing several Gazan civilians near aid hubs, says Hamas tolls exaggerated

The IDF acknowledges that Palestinian civilians were killed and injured by its fire near aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip, including by artillery fire, but says the tolls provided by Hamas authorities are exaggerated.

The military also announces it “reorganized the access routes” to the humanitarian hubs, adding new fencing and signage along with additional paths to the aid sites.

According to the military, troops on the ground have only used live gunfire when a threat was posed to them, including when dozens of suspects approached forces outside of the designated routes to the aid sites operated by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or outside the operating hours.

In those cases, the IDF says a small number of people were hit by its fire, and not dozens as Hamas has claimed.

However, the military says that at least in three “tragic” cases, artillery shelling was carried out toward areas near the aid sites, in an attempt to prevent Palestinians from approaching specific zones outside of the distribution centers.

The artillery fire in those cases was “inaccurate,” according to the IDF’s investigations, and resulted in 30-40 Palestinian casualties, among them several dead.

The military says those civilian casualties “did not need to happen” and it was the result of the inaccurate artillery, and not intended to directly target civilians at the aid sites.

The IDF says it stopped carrying out shelling near the aid sites following the incidents.

Each case of reported civilian casualties near the GHF sites has been investigated, the military says, adding that it is working to improve infrastructure, access routes, signage, and announcements for the aid sites.

Currently, there is no screening process for Palestinians who seek to collect aid, meaning that Hamas members are likely also arriving and picking up food packages. In the coming weeks, the IDF hopes that a screening process may begin, along with the opening of additional aid sites.

Citing “the lessons that were learned,” the IDF also says the Tel Sultan aid site will temporarily be closed while a new distribution hub is built there “in order to reduce the friction with the population and maintain the security of the forces on the ground.”