Gaza: The UN Office for Human Rights has raised concerns over a recent shooting incident at an aid distribution center in Gaza, which reportedly left at least 47 people injured on Tuesday. The center is operated by a newly established group supported by both the United States and Israel.
According to a senior UN official, preliminary information suggests most injuries were caused by gunfire from Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). “We are still verifying details, but initial reports indicate the injuries were likely caused by gunfire from the IDF,” the official stated.
Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health reported that one person was killed and 48 others wounded in the incident. The victim, identified as Salim Abu Mousa, was initially treated at a Red Cross field hospital in Rafah before being transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Israeli military acknowledged that its troops fired warning shots in the air outside the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution center in the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli control. However, IDF spokesperson Col. Oliver Rafowicz denied that forces fired directly at civilians, stating, “At this point, we do not have comprehensive information on the incident, but the troops carried out aerial warning shots, not aimed at people.”
GHF, which runs its aid distribution network independently of the UN and relies on American security contractors, dismissed accusations of misconduct as “unethical and implausible.” The organization stated that its team had temporarily withdrawn to allow a small group of Gaza residents to collect aid safely, in line with GHF safety protocols.
Tuesday's chaos unfolded as thousands of desperate Palestinians rushed the GHF center seeking food and aid. Social media footage showed large crowds of men, women, and children pushing past broken fences and crossing rough terrain. Gunfire could be heard in some videos as people ran for safety.
The United States and Israel maintain that their alternative aid distribution systems are intended to prevent theft by Hamas — an accusation the armed group has consistently denied.
UN agencies have repeatedly warned of a catastrophic hunger crisis in Gaza, where over 2.1 million residents have been suffering under a near-total Israeli blockade for nearly three months.
As the investigation continues, international scrutiny is likely to increase over both the humanitarian consequences of the blockade and the role of foreign-backed aid efforts in the region.
