What to Know About the Deadly Shootings Near a Gaza Aid Site

Multiple incidents of deadly shootings have been reported at or near aid distribution sites in Gaza, leading to a significant and escalating death toll. According to reports from the United Nations and Gaza health officials, more than 1,000 Palestinian civilians seeking aid have been killed since late May 2025.

The majority of these incidents have occurred around new aid distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), often secured by American contractors with Israeli forces patrolling the perimeter. Witnesses, local health officials, and the UN's human rights office have attributed most of the deaths to Israeli military fire. The Israeli military has denied firing on civilians, stating that its forces have only used warning shots to control crowds or have shot at a few "suspects" who ignored warnings.

However, a review by a major news organization, based on witness testimonies and video evidence, concluded that the shots were likely fired by the Israeli army. Palestinian witnesses have described a chaotic and dangerous situation where Israeli troops have fired on large crowds of unarmed people as they approached the aid hubs. In late June, a report in an Israeli newspaper claimed that Israeli troops had received orders to fire on crowds to "keep them away from food distribution centers," a claim that Israeli officials have denied.

The UN and other humanitarian organizations have expressed severe concern over the aid distribution mechanism, with some calling it an "abomination" and a "death trap." They argue that having civilians collect aid in militarized zones exposes them to violence. Aid workers and health officials have reported being overwhelmed with casualties, many with gunshot wounds to the legs and buttocks. The crisis is compounded by the fact that the amount of aid entering Gaza is far below what is needed to meet the population's needs, and the hunger crisis has "dramatically worsened," according to the leading world authority on hunger crises.