At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in an Israeli strike on a crowd gathered for aid in Rafah, southern Gaza, near a distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Previously, three Palestinians were reportedly killed, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
According to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, the killings occurred in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood near a distribution center operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
At least 27 Palestinians have been killed in a new Israeli attack on people waiting for aid in Gaza’s Rafah at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 3, 2025
🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/Jt47Bkqk61 pic.twitter.com/sU2UOfe9hv
The deaths came hours after Israel claimed that three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza, as IDF pushed ahead with a months-long attacks against Hamas that has laid waste to much of the enclave.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza.
The Red Cross confirmed that its field hospital in Rafah received 50 wounded individuals, two of whom were declared dead on arrival.
A third fatality was reported at Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis.
Three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone airstrike that targeted the school of Al Aysheya in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza.
Medical staff said most injuries were caused by gunshots or shrapnel and included women and children.
Witnesses said large crowds had gathered in the area early Monday to receive aid when they came under fire.
The Israeli military published drone footage it claims shows armed men firing at civilians heading to aid sites, though the BBC said it could not verify the footage’s location or date.
Israel's military wing admits to firing shots on Gaza aid distribuition site
On an X post, IDF admits to their forces operating overnight in Rafah.
They claim they spotted several individuals approaching them outside the designated routes and that they fired warning shots to deter individuals approaching them.
However, they continue to insist it was under full Israeli control and that the incident occurred about half a kilometre from the aid distribution site, with troops having acted to “prevent several suspects from approaching.”
Earlier today, during the movement of the crowd along the designated routes toward the aid distribution site—approximately half a kilometer from the site—IDF troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes. The troops carried out…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 3, 2025
It claims that it is aware of the casualty reports and is investigating.
GHF, which also operates with US support and Israeli endorsement, claims that no incident occurred at or near its center, stating “there were no injuries, fatalities or incidents during our operations.”
This claim stands in contrast to the IDF’s statement, which presents a differing account of events.
Furthermore, a journalist in Rafah told the BBC that Israeli tanks opened fire on a crowd near the al-Alam roundabout, close to the GHF site.
UN Secretary-General condemns attack
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed outrage over the repeated loss of civilian life during humanitarian operations. “I am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza,” Guterres said in a statement on Monday.
He called for “an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.”
❗The white bags you see in the Gaza "Humanitarian" Foundation death distribution point footage are not aid bags filled with flour. They are empty flour bags that people bring with them to carry whatever aid they might receive. Although they may appear full, as seen in the… pic.twitter.com/dPnrheB7kS
— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) June 1, 2025
The United Nations and international aid organizations have raised alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the population of over two million is facing acute food shortages and famine-like conditions following months of restricted access to aid.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which opened its first aid distribution sites last week, is supported by the US and operates with Israeli coordination.
However, its operations have come under criticism from the UN and other humanitarian groups for bypassing traditional aid channels and working outside of internationally accepted humanitarian principles.
Reuters states that the foundation claims it distributes 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".
However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.
The Palestinian NGOs Network has called for a boycott of what it labeled the "US-Israeli aid mechanism" in response to the deadly incidents at and around the GHF distribution point.
Relatives of one of the victims, 37-year-old Hussam Wafi, gathered at Nasser Hospital on Monday to mourn before his burial. “They were going peacefully. They went to get food and water for their children — a can of hummus or fava beans — and they got shot,” Wafi's neighbor, Abu Youssef, told Reuters.
Reuters reports that the foundation backed by Israel states that it delivered 21 truckloads of food early Tuesday and that the distribution was "carried out safely and without incident within the site."
However, separate reports indicate multiple fatal incidents near Rafah, where large crowds have been gathering in desperate need of aid.
The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".
However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.
Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has pursued a devastating offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Anadolu Agency.
31 Palestinians killed at Gaza aid centre
Monday’s killings follow a deadly incident a day earlier in the same area, where at least 31 people were reported killed and more than 170 injured by Israeli fire.
Witnesses told BBC that civilians were fired upon while attempting to collect food despite Israel's earlier denial of the attacks.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed a “mass casualty influx” of 179 people at its Rafah field hospital on Sunday, 21 of whom were dead on arrival.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported treating severely injured patients and said some had described being fired upon from multiple directions while trying to access aid.
Israel's war on Gaza
On Monday alone, the ministry reported 51 killed and 500 injured across the enclave, including 16 people from a single airstrike on a home in Jabalia.
The total death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza stands past 54,418 with over 124,190 injured since October 7, 2023.
Israel has killed over 4,149 Palestinians and injured 12,149 since breaking two-month-old ceasefire on March 18 this year.
Israel's atrocities have displaced around 90% of Gaza’s estimated 2 million residents, created a severe hunger crisis, and caused widespread destruction across the territory.
Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.
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