Israeli forces have committed a new massacre targeting Palestinian aid seekers in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 32 people and wounding scores more, the Palestinian health ministry said on Sunday.
According to eyewitnesses and local officials, Israeli troops opened fire directly on civilians gathered at two US-Israeli food distribution points in Rafah and central Gaza.
At least 31 people were killed in Rafah and one in central Gaza, while over 200 were wounded, many of them critically.
The health ministry accused Israel of using the new aid mechanism as a “trap for mass killings” and a tool for “the forced displacement of Gaza’s population.”
It added that those killed in the “massacre” had single gunshot wounds to the head or chest, indicating clear intent to kill.
n Rafah, thousands were instructed to queue some 500 metres from the US distribution point at the Al-Alam roundabout, local journalist Mohammed Ghareeb told Middle East Eye.
As crowds approached the area, Israeli forces rained down bullets on them from every direction, eyewitnesses said.
“I was standing among the crowd, but when people started rushing toward the distribution point, I couldn’t move with them because there were hundreds pushing forward,” Marwa al-Naouq told MEE.
“Then a quadcopter appeared and began firing at them. After that, the Israeli army opened fire directly on the crowd, and American security forces fired tear gas canisters.
“Dozens were killed and injured as people ran in every direction, trying to escape.” (...)