Tragedy at Gaza aid site: 51 people killed in shelling, IDF launches investigation

Tragedy at Gaza aid site: 51 people killed in shelling, IDF launches investigation

Cairo/Gaza, June 18, 2025 - Another tragedy in the Gaza Strip, which is already in a serious humanitarian crisis, shocked the world. The Gaza Ministry of Health issued a statement on Tuesday saying that people waiting for aid supplies near the southern city of Khan Yunis were attacked by Israeli artillery fire, killing at least 51 people and injuring more than 200. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted that it had opened fire at the time and said it had launched an investigation into the incident.

The aid was not waiting, but the bombardment came

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the people attacked were waiting for the arrival of international aid trucks at the roundabout, many of whom had been without food and drinking water for several days. Health Ministry officials pointed out that a large number of casualties were concentrated near the Taheriya roundabout , and some of the injured needed amputation due to shrapnel injuries caused by the shelling.

"Many cases required immediate amputation," said Zahir Wahidi, the health ministry's statistics chief, adding that the injuries were consistent with testimonies from survivors and doctors.

Survivor: I thought it was the safest option

Mohammed Abu Ghali, a 32-year-old Gaza resident who was injured in the incident while trying to find flour for his two young daughters, said he thought it would be safer to wait on the roadside rather than go to a distribution point of the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a U.S.- and Israeli-funded organization with armed contractors as security.

"We thought it would be easier," Abu Ghali said. But minutes later, three shells fell from a distance, scattering shrapnel and knocking dozens of people to the ground. His right leg was so severely torn by shrapnel that doctors had to amputate it below the pelvis.

His brother Ahmed described it as "just a layer of skin left on his legs." Abu Ghali was eventually taken to the hospital by horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws provided by concerned citizens. "I'm lucky," he said from his hospital bed.

Israel responds: "Regrets harming civilians"

The IDF said in a statement that "crowds gathered near aid trucks close to IDF troops" and "regretted any harm caused to unrelated personnel." The IDF said it would continue to "do its utmost to minimize harm to civilians while ensuring the safety of soldiers."

The Israeli army also pointed out that it is investigating reports of "casualties caused by opening fire after the crowd approached", and whether there is a misjudgment or military discipline problem remains to be confirmed.

Aid groups disagree with official narrative

GHF responded that day that it "did not report any incidents" at its four distribution points in Gaza when the incident occurred, and accused the Gaza Ministry of Health of "spreading false information." GHF interim head John Acree stressed that all supplies were "safely unloaded" that day, with only one location temporarily delayed due to overcrowding.

However, officials from the World Health Organization confirmed that they had indeed received reports of "large-scale casualties while waiting for rescue", but due to communication interruption , they were unable to confirm the specific details at this time.

The death toll continues to rise and rescue is still limited

Gaza's health ministry said 397 people have been killed by Israeli army fire on their way to aid centers in the south and central Gaza since April. The Israeli army has denied involvement in all the shootings but acknowledged some are under investigation.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that attacks on humanitarian aid routes were "increasingly frequent" and that the Gaza Strip was "on the brink of collapse." OCHA pointed out that fuel stocks in Gaza were "extremely low" and that 80% of obstetrics and ICUs might be closed within a few days .

The Israeli military denied the existence of a fuel crisis, saying "fuel is available" and that it was working with the United Nations to improve distribution of supplies.

Aid channels are still far from enough

According to COGAT, the Israeli military's branch responsible for coordinating supplies to Gaza, only 64 trucks entered northern and southern Gaza on Monday, but the United Nations and aid organizations agree that this number is far from enough to meet the daily needs of more than 2 million Palestinians .

Israel still stressed the need to prevent "Hamas from obtaining aid supplies" and said it would "continue to open channels while controlling risks."

📌 Comment: A microcosm of a humanitarian paradox

This incident highlights a core paradox in the current situation in Gaza: humanitarian aid is allowed in on the premise that it will not be used by Hamas, the party in control of Gaza. But when this control principle is over-implemented, ordinary people become the biggest victims . They wait for aid in hunger while being exposed to risks from both sides of the war.

As the United Nations has warned, "Gaza will face a total humanitarian collapse if basic services and food supplies are not restored immediately."