UN Secretary-General António Guterres has demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the killing and wounding of scores of Palestinians near a US-backed aid centre in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Sunday. The incident occurred amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and conflicting accounts from Israeli authorities and eyewitnesses.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 Palestinians and wounded 176 more at a location where thousands had gathered in the early morning hours to access food aid. Medics at nearby hospitals described scenes of chaos and bloodshed, with many victims suffering gunshot wounds.
The Israeli military denied firing at civilians while they were at or near the aid site, stating that an initial inquiry found no fire was directed toward the crowd. A military source, however, acknowledged that warning shots were fired toward several individuals about a kilometre from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution centre, outside operating hours.
Guterres expressed deep concern over the reports, saying Palestinians should not have to risk their lives to receive food.He called for an independent investigation to bring to justice those responsible for the inhuman attack.Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the UN chief’s remarks, accusing him of failing to criticize Hamas and dismissing his statement as biased. The Israeli government has partnered with the GHF to distribute aid independently of the traditional UN-led mechanism, which the UN has declined to support due to neutrality concerns.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic and confusion. One witness said that as people gathered before sunrise at the Al-Alam roundabout to head to the aid centre, gunfire suddenly erupted. Another described how initial warning shots quickly escalated into intense shooting, causing people to flee while others collapsed around them.
Photos taken shortly after sunrise showed bodies being transported on donkey carts. Gaza’s civil defence said rescue teams arrived around 6:00 a.m., though many injured had already been taken to hospitals by civilians and other responders.
British surgeon Victoria Rose, speaking from Nasser Hospital, described packed wards filled with gunshot victims and called the situation absolute carnage. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported receiving 179 casualties at its field hospital, including 21 who were dead on arrival.
The GHF claimed that aid distribution had proceeded without incident and accused Hamas of spreading false reports. An Israeli army spokesperson blamed Hamas for disrupting aid efforts and said all allegations against troops would be investigated.
Another Israeli air bombardment in Jabalia reportedly killed 14 people on Monday, according to Gaza’s civil defence. The Israeli military said it had targeted terrorist infrastructure in the north.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The UN has warned of looming famine affecting the entire population. Aid deliveries have been severely limited by Israeli restrictions and widespread looting, including by armed groups.
Since March 18, the Gaza health ministry reports over 4,200 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, bringing the overall death toll in the war to more than 54,000, mostly civilians. The conflict began after a Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023 left over 1,200 people dead, the majority of them civilians.
With ceasefire negotiations stalled and the civilian toll mounting, the latest incident near Rafah highlights the growing peril facing Gazans—even in areas designated for humanitarian relief.
