Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday rejected reports alleging that Israeli troops were ordered to fire on Palestinians approaching humanitarian aid distribution sites in Gaza, calling the claims "malicious falsehoods designed to defame" the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The allegations surfaced in a Haaretz article citing anonymous soldiers who described the areas around aid sites as "killing fields," where artillery shells and gunfire were used even when no immediate threat was present. One soldier claimed Israeli forces opened fire on civilians approaching the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid locations. The IDF denied the accusations, stating: "The IDF did not instruct the forces to deliberately shoot at civilians, including those approaching the distribution centers."
In a statement, the IDF emphasized that its directives "prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians" and said any suspected deviations from the law would be thoroughly investigated by its Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism under the Military Advocate General's oversight.
Gaza's Health Ministry reports that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded near aid sites since May 27. The ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, said the victims were seeking food distributed by the GHF, a U.S.- and Israeli-backed private foundation that began operations in Gaza a month ago. The foundation distributes pre-packaged food at a handful of locations, primarily in southern and central Gaza.
The bodies of eight people who died Friday were brought to Shifa Hospital from a GHF site in Netzarim, although the cause of death remains unclear, according to hospital director Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmyiha. A GHF spokesperson denied knowledge of any such incidents and said food distributions that day "proceeded without incident."
Doctors Without Borders condemned the current distribution system as "a slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid" and urged an immediate shutdown.
In a social media post, the GHF stated, "These allegations are too grave to ignore and we therefore call on Israel to investigate them and transparently publish the results in a timely manner." The foundation says it has distributed 46 million meals over the past four weeks and is slated to receive $30 million in new U.S. funding, according to the State Department.
Palestinians attempting to reach food hubs face increasingly perilous conditions, including exposure to live fire in Israeli-controlled military zones. Mohammad Fawzi, a displaced Rafah resident, described the harrowing conditions: "We've been shot at since 6 a.m. up until 10 a.m. just to get aid and only some people were able to receive it. There are martyrs and injured people. The situation is difficult."
CNN reported that weapons experts reviewed images of bullets recovered from victims and concluded they were consistent with IDF machine guns. Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces fired repeated volleys at crowds, contradicting IDF claims that only warning shots were used.
The humanitarian crisis has deepened since Israel's blockade of food, medicine, and water began 2½ months ago. Although limited aid resumed in mid-May, the U.N. says the delivery process is being hampered by armed gangs and civilians looting trucks. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged a return to U.N.-led food distribution, stating Friday: "The search for food must never be a death sentence."
The Gaza Health Ministry says over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed and 132,000 wounded since the war began in October. The death toll includes more than 6,000 people killed since the latest ceasefire collapsed on March 18. Israel contends that it targets only Hamas militants and blames the group for operating among civilians.
The war, now in its 21st month, began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and kidnapping around 250. Roughly 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.
In the latest strikes, at least 60 people were killed Friday and Saturday, including 12 near the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City and 11 in a midday attack in the city's east. Shifa, Nasser, and Al-Ahli hospitals reported receiving the victims.
