Latest Gaza News: 15 Killed While Waiting for Aid, Israel Acknowledges Incident

3rd June 2025

2 minutes read

Latest Gaza News: 15 Killed While Waiting for Aid, Israel Acknowledges Incident

In an incident marking the second tragedy of its kind within 48 hours, at least 15 Palestinians were killed Tuesday morning while waiting to receive aid in the Rafah area, southern Gaza Strip.

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The spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, Mahmoud Bassal, stated that these 15 Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire as thousands had gathered near the Al-Mawasi area on their way to an aid distribution center in the southern part of the territory.

In a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Bassal indicated that the bodies of the victims were transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younès, and that dozens more were injured “following fire from Israeli tanks and drones targeting thousands of civilians.”

He added that thousands had gathered since dawn near the Al-Alam roundabout in the Al-Mawasi area west of Rafah, noting that they were “on their way to the American aid center in the city to receive food assistance.”

UN Calls for Investigation

UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday called for an “independent and immediate investigation” into the deaths of dozens of people near a food distribution center in Gaza.

The UN’s appeal came after 31 people were killed and over 176 others injured by Israeli gunfire during aid distribution. The Israeli military has denied targeting civilians, calling the reports “false.”

On May 26, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began distributing aid in the territory. On Sunday, it announced it had delivered six million meals to date.

However, the United Nations has refused to cooperate with the US-backed organization, stating it does not uphold basic humanitarian principles.

Israel Under Pressure

Israel is facing increasing international pressure over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now largely reduced to rubble.

The United Nations warns that the entire population of the besieged territory is at risk of famine, stating that the aid allowed in recently — after a total blockade of over two months — is merely “a drop in the ocean.”