Israeli tank fire killed at least 51 Palestinians and injured more than 200 others Monday in Khan Younis as thousands gathered near stalled aid trucks, according to Gaza's Health Ministry and medics at Nasser Hospital. The incident marks one of the deadliest in a series of aid-related fatalities that have occurred amid rising desperation and worsening hunger across the Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli tanks fired two shells at crowds waiting along the main eastern road through Khan Younis, where they had hoped to receive food. "All of a sudden, they let us move forward and made everyone gather, and then shells started falling, tank shells," said a witness identified as Alaa at Nasser Hospital, where wounded victims lay on the floor due to overcrowding. "The people are dying, they are being torn apart, to get food for their children."
Another witness, Yousef Nofal, described it as "a massacre," saying Israeli forces continued firing as people fled. Mohammed Abu Qeshfa said he heard explosions and gunfire, adding, "I survived by a miracle."
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said: "Earlier today, a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Yunis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area. The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach." The military said the incident was under review and added: "The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops."
The latest episode comes amid near-daily mass casualties involving Palestinians seeking food since Israel began permitting limited humanitarian aid in mid-May. Gaza authorities say more than 200 civilians have been killed while attempting to reach aid distribution sites in recent weeks.
Israel has channeled aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed entity operating four distribution centers under military guard. While the GHF says it has delivered more than three million meals "without incident," Gaza officials and residents claim Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire near these locations.
"We don't want flour. We don't want food. We don't want anything," said Samaher Meqdad, who was searching for her two brothers and a nephew at Nasser Hospital. "Why did they fire at the young people? Why? Aren't we human beings?"
United Nations agencies have criticized the GHF's model as unsafe and politically biased. The U.N. and major aid groups deny claims that Hamas diverts international aid and argue that allowing Israel to control delivery mechanisms violates humanitarian neutrality. Israel insists the system is necessary to prevent militant exploitation.
Monday's strike in Khan Younis followed another deadly episode in Rafah, where Gaza health officials said 23 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire as they tried to reach aid trucks.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has killed more than 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry says over half of the casualties have been women and children. Israel contends its goal is to dismantle Hamas's infrastructure.
