At least 35 Palestinians have been killed and over 175 wounded in an Israeli attack on civilians gathered at a US-backed aid distribution site in Rafah, according to reports from Al Jazeera Arabic and the Red Cross Hospital in Gaza.
The incident occurred near a humanitarian relief point operated by the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Witnesses say people had gathered in hopes of receiving desperately needed aid when Israeli forces launched the deadly strike.
The Government Media Office in Gaza confirmed the attack, stating that at least 22 people were initially reported killed, with numbers later rising to 30 as more casualties were confirmed. Over 120 others have been injured, many critically.
Officials in Gaza condemned the attack, accusing Israel and the United States of turning humanitarian aid sites into "mass death traps."
"The continued targeting of civilians at aid distribution points reflects the true nature of these locations – not as centers for relief, but as exposed killing zones," the statement read. "This is a systematic and malicious use of humanitarian assistance as a weapon of war, designed to lure starving civilians into vulnerable areas monitored and controlled by the occupation army."
Gaza’s media office further claimed that in less than a week, Israeli attacks on aid distribution points have killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 220.
The statement held both Israel and the United States "morally and legally responsible" for the deaths, pointing to the logistical, financial, and political support provided to these aid operations.
The situation in Rafah remains dire, with international aid organizations struggling to deliver supplies amidst ongoing Israeli military operations. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, prompting renewed calls for a ceasefire and an independent investigation into the attacks on aid sites.
