Gaza Latest: 31 Killed by Israeli Fire Near Aid Center
The Civil Defense and medical sources in Gaza announced that 31 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli military fire near an aid distribution point in central Gaza.
Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Agence France-Presse: “Our teams and paramedics transported at least 31 bodies and around 200 wounded after Israeli military vehicles and quadcopter drones opened fire on thousands of civilians gathered near the Al-Shuhadaa (Netzarim) junction and Wadi Gaza Bridge,” noting that “they were on their way to collect food supplies from the American aid center” near the Wadi Gaza bridge.
The dead and wounded were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Dr. Mohammad Abu Salima, Director General of Al-Shifa Hospital, confirmed to AFP: “We received 24 bodies and 96 wounded, all struck by Israeli bullets.”
Meanwhile, Al-Awda Hospital stated that it had received seven bodies and over 100 injuries from the vicinity of the aid center near Wadi Gaza Bridge.
The Netzarim corridor is a militarized strip controlled by Israel, stretching from its border to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively separating northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave.
Basal explained that people began gathering at dawn and that Israeli tanks fired multiple times, intensifying around 5:30 a.m., in coordination with heavy fire from quadcopter drones targeting civilians.
He added: “The drones kept firing at the hungry citizens, causing the high number of deaths and injuries. Hundreds of people are still near Netzarim and Wadi Gaza Bridge trying to reach the aid center, despite the occupation firing intermittently.”
According to the latest tally released Tuesday by Gaza’s Health Ministry (under Hamas control), 54,981 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out on October 7, 2023.
The ministry noted that at least 4,649 people have been killed since March 18, when a fragile two-month truce between Hamas and Israel collapsed.
Israel launched an unprecedentedly intense war on Gaza in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, which left 1,218 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.
