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At least 37 Palestinians killed in Gaza food site shooting, local authorities say At least 37 Palestinians killed in Gaza food site shooting, local authorities say
(about 2 hours later)
Death toll is highest yet reported in near-daily shootings since US-backed group began distributing food in territoryDeath toll is highest yet reported in near-daily shootings since US-backed group began distributing food in territory
Middle East crisis – live updatesMiddle East crisis – live updates
At least 37 Palestinians were killed on Monday in new shootings in Gaza near food distribution centres run by private US contractors guarded by Israeli troops, local authorities said.At least 37 Palestinians were killed on Monday in new shootings in Gaza near food distribution centres run by private US contractors guarded by Israeli troops, local authorities said.
Witnesses blamed the shootings on Israeli troops who opened fire early in the morning as crowds of hungry Palestinians converged on two hubs managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organisation that began operating recently in Gaza with Israeli and US support. Witnesses blamed the shootings on Israeli troops who opened fire early in the morning as crowds of hungry Palestinians converged on two hubs managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organisation that recently began operating in Gaza with Israeli and US support.
Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war.
Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza.
Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 180 killed since the conflict began.
The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them “were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders”.
Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government.
To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual​​ teams verif​y photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises.
Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent
The death toll on Monday was the highest yet reported in the near-daily shootings since the GHF began operations three weeks ago.The death toll on Monday was the highest yet reported in the near-daily shootings since the GHF began operations three weeks ago.
Health officials in Gaza said most of Monday’s victims were killed while trying to reach the GHF centre near the southern city of Rafah, which has largely been razed by the Israeli military, and close to a second GHF centre in central Gaza. It said four other people were killed elsewhere.Health officials in Gaza said most of Monday’s victims were killed while trying to reach the GHF centre near the southern city of Rafah, which has largely been razed by the Israeli military, and close to a second GHF centre in central Gaza. It said four other people were killed elsewhere.
Two Palestinians trying to get food at the Rafah site, Heba Jouda and Mohammed Abed, told the Associated Press that Israeli forces fired on the crowds at about 4am at the Flag roundabout. The traffic circle, hundreds of metres from the GHF centre, has repeatedly been the scene of shootings.Two Palestinians trying to get food at the Rafah site, Heba Jouda and Mohammed Abed, told the Associated Press that Israeli forces fired on the crowds at about 4am at the Flag roundabout. The traffic circle, hundreds of metres from the GHF centre, has repeatedly been the scene of shootings.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Monday its field hospital in Gaza had received 200 patients, marking the highest number received by the facility in one mass casualty incident.The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Monday its field hospital in Gaza had received 200 patients, marking the highest number received by the facility in one mass casualty incident.
On Sunday, the same hospital treated 170 people, many of whom “were wounded by gunshots, and who reported that they were trying to access a food distribution site”.On Sunday, the same hospital treated 170 people, many of whom “were wounded by gunshots, and who reported that they were trying to access a food distribution site”.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to travel long distances and to cross Israeli military-controlled areas in Gaza, often at night, in a desperate and hazardous effort to get food packages from the new centres.Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to travel long distances and to cross Israeli military-controlled areas in Gaza, often at night, in a desperate and hazardous effort to get food packages from the new centres.
The Israeli military has designated specific routes to access the aid hubs, and GHF has warned aid-seekers that leaving the roads is dangerous, but many do in an attempt to get to the scarce food first. The Israeli military has designated specific routes to access the food hubs, and GHF has warned Palestinians that leaving the roads is dangerous, but many do so in an attempt to get to the scarce food first.
Aid officials said GHF and the Israeli military often give conflicting advice about access to the distribution sites, leading thousands to attempt to access aid through zones that are supposedly still off-limits. At least one incident early on Monday morning occurred some distance from a GHF site before it opened. Aid officials said GHF and the Israeli military often give conflicting advice about access to the distribution sites, leading thousands to attempt to access the hubs through zones that are supposedly still off-limits. At least one incident early on Monday morning occurred some distance from a GHF site before it opened.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) claimed that an initial inquiry suggested that the toll reported by local authorities was not accurate. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that an initial inquiry suggested the toll reported by local authorities was not accurate.
“Despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone, overnightseveral attempts were made by suspects to approach IDF troops who were operating in the area of Rafah, posing a danger to them. IDF troops operated in order to remove the threat and prevent the suspects from approaching them, and fired warning shots,” the IDF said in a statement. It said in a statement: “Despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone, overnightseveral attempts were made by suspects to approach IDF troops who were operating in the area of Rafah, posing a danger to them. IDF troops operated in order to remove the threat and prevent the suspects from approaching them, and fired warning shots.”
Israel hopes the GHF will replace the previous comprehensive system of aid distribution run by the United Nations, which Israeli officials claim allowed Hamas to steal and sell aid. Aid agencies deny this, saying their tracing systems are robust. Israel hopes the GHF will replace the previous comprehensive system of aid distribution run by the United Nations, which Israeli officials claim allowed Hamas to steal and sell aid. Aid agencies deny this, saying their tracing systems are robust.
UN agencies and major aid groups, which have delivered humanitarian aid across Gaza since the start of war, have rejected the new system, saying it is impractical, inadequate and unethical. They deny there is widespread theft of aid by Hamas.UN agencies and major aid groups, which have delivered humanitarian aid across Gaza since the start of war, have rejected the new system, saying it is impractical, inadequate and unethical. They deny there is widespread theft of aid by Hamas.
Palestinian health officials say scores of people have been killed and hundreds wounded since the sites opened last month.Palestinian health officials say scores of people have been killed and hundreds wounded since the sites opened last month.
A tight blockade on all supplies entering Gaza was imposed by Israel throughout March and April, threatening many of the 2.3 million people who live there with “a critical risk of famine”. Aid distributed so far by GHF has been grossly inadequate, humanitarian officials in the devastated territory said. A tight blockade on all supplies entering Gaza was imposed by Israel throughout March and April, threatening many of the 2.3 million people who live there with “a critical risk of famine”. The GHF’s provisions so far have been grossly inadequate, humanitarian officials in the devastated territory said.
On Sunday, GHF said it had distributed 36,000 food boxes, totalling more than 2.1m meals.On Sunday, GHF said it had distributed 36,000 food boxes, totalling more than 2.1m meals.
In Geneva, Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said Israel’s near 20-month offensive in Gaza was inflicting “horrifying, unconscionable suffering” on Palestinians and urged government leaders to “wake up” and exert pressure to bring an end to the conflict.In Geneva, Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said Israel’s near 20-month offensive in Gaza was inflicting “horrifying, unconscionable suffering” on Palestinians and urged government leaders to “wake up” and exert pressure to bring an end to the conflict.
“The facts speak for themselves,” said Türk at the opening of the latest human rights council session on Monday.“The facts speak for themselves,” said Türk at the opening of the latest human rights council session on Monday.
“Everyone in government needs to wake up to what is happening in Gaza. All those with influence must exert maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas, to put an end to this unbearable suffering.”“Everyone in government needs to wake up to what is happening in Gaza. All those with influence must exert maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas, to put an end to this unbearable suffering.”
The war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas raid into southern Israel in October 2023 in which militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250. Israel’s offensive in the aftermath of the Hamas attack has killed more than 55,000 Palestinians and devastated swaths of the territory.
Türk has repeatedly spoken out about bloodshed in Gaza and called for the release of more than 50 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas and other armed Palestinian militants there.Türk has repeatedly spoken out about bloodshed in Gaza and called for the release of more than 50 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas and other armed Palestinian militants there.
The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva responded by accusing Türk and his office of being “relentless in making irresponsible and uneducated statements regarding Israel’s conduct of hostilities – including reliance on information propagated by terrorist organisations”.The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva responded by accusing Türk and his office of being “relentless in making irresponsible and uneducated statements regarding Israel’s conduct of hostilities – including reliance on information propagated by terrorist organisations”.
It called on Türk to “condemn Hamas’s declared strategy to maximise harm to the population in Gaza”.It called on Türk to “condemn Hamas’s declared strategy to maximise harm to the population in Gaza”.