The Israeli military has said it is examining reports of civilians being "harmed" while approaching aid distribution centres in Gaza run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since GHF operations began in late May, following a three-month Israeli blockade on Gaza, there have been almost daily reports from medics, eyewitnesses and the Hamas-run health ministry of Israeli fire killing people seeking aid at these sites. The UN says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli military said on Monday instructions had been issued to forces after "lessons learned", but did not specify what these lessons were. The IDF has on numerous occasions said it has fired what it has described as "warning shots" on "suspects" approaching its troops. Multiple Israeli media outlets, including the Times of Israel, reported on Monday that the IDF had acknowledged that some Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid, but that the IDF said Hamas's casualty figures were inaccurate. Israeli media reported that the military had admitted that in some cases "inaccurate" fire by Israeli forces had led to casualties and some deaths. The BBC put these points to the IDF, which said in response that "reports of incidents of harm" were being "examined" and that "any allegation of a deviation from the law or IDF directives will be thoroughly examined and further action will be taken as necessary." It said it had no further comment regarding the claims made in Israeli media on Monday. However it denied any allegations of deliberate fire at civilians, such as those raised in a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Friday. That report quoted unnamed IDF soldiers who said they were ordered to shoot at unarmed civilians near aid distribution sites, to drive them away or disperse them. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the report, calling the allegations "malicious falsehoods". The GHF aid system has been condemned by UN agencies, and on Friday UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres branded it "inherently unsafe". It is intended to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid to Palestinians. Israel and the US said the system would prevent aid being stolen by Hamas, which the group denies doing. Within days of GHF operations starting in late May, dozens of Palestinians were killed in separate incidents on 1 and 3 June, sparking international condemnation. On Friday GHF boss Johnnie Mooretold the BBChe was not denying reports of deaths near aid sites, but said "100% of those casualties are being attributed to close proximity to GHF" and that was "not true". Israel does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, to send journalists into Gaza. In its statement on Monday, the IDF said it was reorganising access to the sites and this would include new "fencing" and signposting, including directional and warning signs. This was aimed at "improving the operational response in the area, minimising friction with the population, and ensuring that the aid reaches its intended recipients", it said. It also said it had decided to close an aid distribution centre in the Tel al-Sultan area near Rafah in southern Gaza to establish a new one nearby. Last week the US State Department announced $30m (£22m) in funding for the GHF, which is its first known direct contribution to the group. Israel partially eased its three-month blockade of Gaza following pressure from US allies and warnings from global experts that half a million people were facing starvation. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 56,500 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.
Israeli military investigates 'reports of harm to civilians' after hundreds killed near Gaza aid sites
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"Israeli Military Investigates Civilian Casualties Near Gaza Aid Distribution Centers"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The Israeli military is currently investigating reports of civilian casualties occurring near aid distribution centers in Gaza, which are managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Since the GHF commenced operations in late May, following a three-month blockade imposed by Israel, numerous incidents have been reported where civilians, including those seeking aid, have been killed by Israeli fire. According to the United Nations, over 400 Palestinians have died while attempting to access aid. In response to these allegations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that some civilian casualties had occurred, attributing them to what they described as 'inaccurate' fire. The IDF stated that they had issued new instructions to their forces based on 'lessons learned', although they did not provide specific details regarding these lessons. The military has often claimed to have fired warning shots at individuals deemed suspicious, yet these claims have been met with skepticism, particularly after reports surfaced from Israeli media suggesting that some IDF personnel were ordered to fire upon unarmed civilians near these aid sites.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the GHF aid distribution system, labeling it 'inherently unsafe' and indicating that it serves to bypass the UN as the primary humanitarian aid supplier to Palestinians. This system has been established amid concerns that aid intended for civilians could be intercepted by Hamas, a claim that the group denies. With the ongoing conflict following Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically. The IDF has announced plans to reorganize access to the aid sites, including the installation of new fencing and signage to improve safety and operational responses. Additionally, the US State Department recently pledged $30 million in funding to the GHF, marking its first direct contribution to this initiative. Despite the ongoing investigations and the complexities surrounding the aid distribution, the situation remains dire for the residents of Gaza, with over 56,500 reported fatalities since the conflict escalated.
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