Clashes Erupt Near Gaza Aid Distribution Sites Amidst Ongoing Violence

Sun Oct 19 2025 20:27:21 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Reports emerge of gunfire from both local gunmen and Israeli forces as Palestinians attempt to access aid in Gaza.

Tensions escalate in Gaza as locals report being fired upon while seeking food aid. Witness accounts mention gunmen and Israeli troops involved in the violence, raising concerns over safety at distribution sites.

Palestinians in Gaza faced renewed gunfire on Monday while attempting to collect food aid from a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the US. Eyewitnesses claimed that this marked the first time locals were targeted by both Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah. The ongoing violence has resulted in a reported six fatalities and 99 injuries, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Despite these alarming reports, the GHF stated that its distribution activities were conducted "without incident" at two other sites in southern and central Gaza on the same day. The organization has come under scrutiny following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's admission that Israeli forces are arming Palestinian factions against Hamas.

Since May 26, when the GHF commenced its aid distribution, there have been multiple violent incidents near the sites, particularly affecting civilians trying to access aid. Witnesses have recounted harrowing scenes of gunfire and chaos, with the Israeli military claiming it only targeted individuals perceived as threats. However, reports indicate that Palestinian gunmen were also engaged in the attack.

One eyewitness, Hisham Saeed Salem, described masked men opening fire on civilians, creating panic and confusion. Another individual, Mohammed Sakout, recounted his narrow escape from stray bullets. Meanwhile, a seriously injured victim at Nasser hospital detailed being shot in the neck after gunmen began firing while aid was being distributed.

While the GHF claims to have delivered over 11 million meals without significant incidents, the health ministry in Gaza reported that hospitals received 127 bodies and over a thousand injuries from the aid distribution zones during the same time frame. The GHF aims to operate independently of the UN, citing concerns of aid being commandeered by Hamas, which the latter has consistently denied.

As the Israeli military's campaign against Hamas continues, the turbulent situation has escalated significantly since the October 7 attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead in southern Israel. The ensuing conflict has led to over 54,927 Palestinian fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance amidst escalating violence and chaos.