At least 38 Palestinians were shot dead on Monday as Israeli forces opened fire on crowds attempting to reach food distribution centers in Gaza. Most of the victims were in Rafah, in southern Gaza, where people gathered near aid trucks operated under the new Israeli- and US-backed aid delivery mechanism.
According to medical sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, this marks the deadliest single day since the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) system began last month. The Israeli military has not issued a comment on the latest shootings. In previous incidents, the army claimed that soldiers had fired warning shots toward people they suspected of posing a threat, but often did not confirm whether those rounds struck anyone.
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Monday’s attack is part of a pattern. Since late May, over 300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded while trying to access aid centers through the new system. Human rights groups have called the shootings unjustified and in violation of international humanitarian law.
Palestinians Face Impossible Choice to Starve or Get Shot
The situation on the ground remains grim for ordinary Gazans. With food scarcity worsening and Israel’s blockade limiting supplies, families are forced to take life-threatening risks just to put bread on the table. Crowds, including women and children, must cross active military zones and navigate barbed wire to reach the distribution points.
“I knew the soldiers might shoot, but my children haven’t eaten in two days,” said Mahmoud, a father of four who was injured during one of the aid runs. “This is not aid. It is humiliation and slaughter.”
The distribution points are run by the GHF, a private contractor working in coordination with Israeli and US authorities. The organization claims it operates with strict security measures, but eyewitnesses report a lack of coordination and crowd control. With each day, more Palestinians are forced to choose between starvation and the gunfire of Israeli forces.
Despite growing international outrage, the aid centers continue to function under this highly militarized framework. Independent observers have not been allowed to monitor the sites, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
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New Aid Mechanism Replaces UN System
The GHF aid distribution system was launched to replace the United Nations-led operation that had delivered aid throughout Gaza since the war began 20 months ago. Israel and the United States argue that the new mechanism is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid supplies for military use.
Critics say the new system lacks oversight, punishes civilians, and has become a tool of collective punishment. “It’s a political experiment using human lives,” said an official from a regional humanitarian group, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The old system wasn’t perfect, but it saved lives. This one is killing them.”
While some limited aid has trickled in, much of Gaza remains under extreme food insecurity. Aid trucks are few and far between, and even when they arrive, chaos erupts due to desperate crowds and lack of coordination with local authorities.
Global Condemnation Grows, Israel Silent
Monday’s massacre has triggered renewed condemnation from humanitarian organizations and international observers. However, as of Tuesday morning, neither the Israeli military nor the US State Department had issued a formal response to the latest incident at the aid centers.
The UN Human Rights Office has called for an immediate investigation into the shootings and demanded access for independent monitors. “This level of civilian casualties at aid distribution sites is absolutely unacceptable,” a spokesperson said in Geneva.
As pressure mounts, questions remain over whether Israel will continue with the GHF system, and whether the international community will step in to safeguard aid distribution in Gaza.