Over 30 killed, dozens injured near Gaza food aid centre –

More than 30 people were killed and dozens injured near a food aid distribution centre in the Gaza Strip yesterday. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, the incident took place near an aid site in Rafah operated by an Israel-backed organisation. Witnesses told the Associated Press that the victims were on their way to receive food when they came under fire roughly 1,000 yards from the centre.
 
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 21 people were declared dead on arrival at one of its field hospitals, with 179 others wounded, including women and children. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which also responded to the incident, said the blood bank at Nasser Hospital was nearly depleted, prompting medical staff to donate blood themselves to treat the injured.
 
The Israeli military has denied its involvement, stating in a preliminary inquiry that its forces did not fire on civilians near or within the distribution site. The U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which runs the aid centre in Rafah, also rejected claims of violence, saying it delivered 16 truckloads of aid “without incident” yesterday.
 
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire continue. Hamas said that it was seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed proposal, but U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff rejected the group’s response as “totally unacceptable.” Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, stated they are continuing efforts to bridge the gaps. Hamas welcomed those efforts and expressed willingness to begin a new round of indirect negotiations yesterday.
 
The Hamas-run civil defence agency in Gaza blamed the deaths on Israeli gunfire allegedly targeting civilians. At least 54,418 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the territory’s health ministry. The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 others being taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched a sustained military campaign across Gaza.