Gaza: The Israeli military on Monday acknowledged that Palestinian civilians had been harmed at aid distribution centres in the Gaza Strip and said it has updated its operational procedures based on “lessons learned.”
This comes amid growing international concern over the safety of aid distribution in Gaza. Since Israel ended an 11-week blockade on May 19 and permitted limited UN deliveries, over 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to collect aid, according to United Nations figures.
“In light of reported incidents involving harm to civilians at aid distribution points, detailed investigations were carried out by the Southern Command,” the Israeli military said in a statement. “Revised instructions have since been issued to field units.”
The military noted that reviews are ongoing into cases where civilians were injured or killed near aid delivery zones.
This statement follows a Haaretz report on Friday indicating that Israel’s Military Advocate General has launched a probe into potential war crimes, specifically allegations that Israeli troops intentionally fired on civilians near aid centres.
The military did not immediately respond to a Times of Israel report citing officials who claimed that Israeli artillery fire, intended to deter access to restricted zones near aid sites, had misfired on at least three occasions. Those misfires allegedly caused 30 to 40 casualties, including deaths.
Israel has maintained that its military presence near aid hubs is aimed at preventing supplies from being seized by Hamas.
Meanwhile, a senior UN official stated Sunday that most of those killed were trying to reach food distribution points operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF launched its food aid program in late May, using a new delivery model criticized by the United Nations as lacking neutrality and impartiality.
Many residents of Gaza report walking for hours, often starting their journeys before dawn, in hopes of accessing desperately needed aid.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday condemned the current aid model as “inherently unsafe,” warning that it is contributing to civilian deaths. “Any operation that funnels desperate civilians into militarised zones is endangering lives,” he said.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry defended its military, asserting that civilians are not targeted and accusing the UN of siding with Hamas by opposing the GHF operation. “The UN is actively undermining GHF’s humanitarian efforts,” the ministry posted on social media platform X.
A GHF spokesperson said no deaths had occurred at or near its aid sites, contradicting other reports. Both Israel and the U.S. have accused Hamas of diverting aid from UN-led channels—allegations Hamas denies.
The Israeli military said Monday that it had introduced safety measures at aid sites, including fencing, signs, added vehicle access points, and controlled entry systems. It also relocated one distribution centre to lower tensions with local communities and ensure soldier safety.
The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 hostages taken—Israel’s deadliest day on record.
Since then, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 56,000 people—mostly civilians—according to Gaza health officials, and has devastated much of the densely populated territory.
