Local health officials reported that Israeli forces killed six Palestinians near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza on Saturday night, marking the fourth such incident within a week. The incident occurred in west Rafah, where civilians had gathered in hopes of receiving aid. The victims remain unidentified, but the Palestinian Health Ministry, whose data has been noted as reliable by the World Health Organization, oversees casualty reports.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the shooting, stating that troops fired “warning shots” at “suspects” they believed posed a threat in the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp. The IDF claimed that despite warnings about the area being an active combat zone, individuals approached their troops in a manner that endangered them. While IDF officials did not explicitly identify the nature of the threat posed by the suspects, they stated they were aware of the casualties reported but did not take accountability for the deaths.
Recent incidents leading to multiple fatalities have caused significant distress among Palestinians. On Sunday alone, over 30 people were reported killed in Rafah, following an exchange of fire near another aid distribution center. Witnesses described coming under fire from both air and ground sources while waiting for assistance.
On subsequent days, more violence erupted, with Israeli forces reportedly killing three individuals at a food distribution site, and later at least 27 more associated with another aid distribution point. These incidents resulted in numerous injuries, including that of a young girl, heightening concerns about civilian safety amidst ongoing tensions in the region. The IDF maintained that its forces acted in self-defense but faced criticism over the rising number of casualties.
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