TRANSCRIPT
Aid operations in Gaza have been suspended after Israeli authorities declared roads to distribution sites combat zones and barred access.
The privately-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed initiative, has closed its centres for what it calls updates and efficiency improvements.
The halt follows the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians near Rafah, shot while heading to the site to collect food.
A spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence agency, Mahmoud Basal, says tanks, drones and helicopters opened fire about a kilometre from a GHF site.
It is the third such incident in three days.
Thirty-one Palestinians were killed on Sunday, and three more on Monday, according to Palestinian health authorities.
All incidents occurred near newly established aid hubs in southern Gaza.
Israeli army spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin says troops fired only warning shots at individuals who left safe corridors and posed a threat.
“Earlier today, IDF forces fired warning shots half a kilometre from the distribution point at suspects who approached them and were endangering the safety of the fighters. The incident is under investigation, and also here we will arrive at the truth.”
He alleges that Hamas is losing control and using violence against its own people.
"In recent days, it was possible to see gunmen shooting at civilians who were on their way to collect humanitarian aid. In southern Khan Younis, masked gunmen opened direct fire and aimed at close range at Gazan civilians who were trying to collect aid. Hamas is losing control of the population. Hamas continues to operate in its own way against its population, through terror, violence and killing.”
Hamas denies it.
GHF says its sites remain secure and casualties occurred beyond their perimeter, inside a military zone.
A Foundation spokesperson said it was saddened to learn that people were injured or killed after leaving the designated corridor.
The United Nations has criticised the Foundation's operations, warning it fails to address Gaza’s food crisis and allows Israel to weaponise humanitarian assistance.
Jeremy Laurence, from the UN Human Rights Office, has called for accountability.
“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we received information that dozens more people were killed and injured.”
He says the UN issued clear warnings about it.
“Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel’s militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned.”
In Rafah, witnesses say families were gathering for aid when the shooting began.
Survivor Kamel Aga said they were simply seeking bread.
"We were out bringing bread and we were at a 1.5 kilometre distance from Israeli tanks. We were surprised that shots and shelling were being fired at us. Everyone fell on the ground and people were stepping on dead bodies. This is not normal. The enemy is not normal.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross says its field hospital in Rafah received 184 wounded.
Nineteen were declared dead on arrival and eight more died later.
The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip.
The US State Department has acknowledged the situation is deteriorating.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce says the White House appreciates Israel conducting an investigation into the deaths.
"There is a situation where there were reportedly 27 casualties, at a site today. And the IDF has noted that they are investigating. So I think that there's an important difference. It's important for us to recognise the difference, certainly in a war zone. But when there is news that is not true for us to be able to point that out. But then also, as we appreciate the fact that the IDF is investigating the latest incident and we'll be watching that report and investigation and keep you advised."
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel denies Israel is responsible for food insecurity in Gaza, instead blaming Hamas and the United Nations.
"Hamas is doing everything possible to prevent and derail this and is spreading lies. But Gaza residents are turning up in droves. The fact that Hamas is against this new program shows how effective it actually is. Civilians in Gaza arrived again this morning to collect aid packages from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund. The sad part about all of this is the UN conduct. The UN is refusing to utilise nearly 100 aid trucks and they are still waiting on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom. Aid is waiting to be collected by the U-N and they are not showing up."
Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, Palestinian families have fled homes and shelters following new evacuation orders by the Israeli army.
