Israel Denies Firing on Civilians as Hamas-Run Ministry Reports 31 Killed Near Gaza Aid Center

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — June 1, 2025 — Tensions escalated in southern Gaza on Sunday as the Hamas-run health ministry reported that at least 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 170 injured while heading to an aid distribution center in Rafah. The ministry and multiple witnesses attributed the deaths to Israeli gunfire, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) firmly denied targeting civilians, stating that initial findings showed no shots were fired at people near or within the aid site.

According to Gaza's health ministry, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as thousands of Palestinians gathered near the Al-Alam roundabout, approximately 800 meters from a distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed private aid group. The ministry claimed that victims suffered single gunshot wounds to the head or chest, alleging deliberate targeting by Israeli forces. Eyewitnesses, including a local Palestinian journalist, told the BBC that Israeli tanks approached the crowd and opened fire, with one resident, Reda Abu Jazar, lamenting the loss of her brother as he sought food aid. "Let them stop these massacres, stop this genocide. They are killing us," she told Reuters.

The IDF, in a statement, rejected the accusations, calling them "false reports." "Findings from an initial inquiry indicate that the IDF did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site," the military said. An IDF source acknowledged to CNN that troops fired toward individuals about 1 kilometer away from the site before it opened, but the military insisted no civilians were targeted. The IDF also released drone footage, shared via Fox News, showing masked gunmen allegedly shooting at Gazans attempting to collect aid, suggesting Hamas was disrupting distribution efforts and endangering residents.

The GHF, which has been distributing aid in Israeli military zones, denied any incident occurred near its Rafah site, stating that 4.7 million meals were delivered this week without issue. The foundation, backed by Israel and the U.S. to bypass alleged Hamas interference, accused the militant group of spreading "fake reports." Israel has long claimed Hamas siphons off aid, though no public evidence of systematic diversion has been provided, and the United Nations has denied such claims.

This incident comes amid a broader conflict that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The war has displaced 90% of Gaza's 2 million residents, leaving them heavily reliant on international aid as experts warn of famine risks.

Ceasefire efforts faltered this week, with Hamas seeking amendments to a U.S.-proposed 60-day truce plan that would include the release of 28 Israeli hostages and 1,236 Palestinian prisoners. Israel and Hamas continue to trade blame for the breakdown, with the latest violence further complicating humanitarian operations.

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