Rafah, Gaza – What began as a desperate journey for food has, once again, ended in tragedy. For the third day in a row, Palestinians attempting to reach an aid distribution site in southern Gaza have come under fire, with at least 27 people reported dead and dozens more wounded.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and officials at Nasser Hospital, the deadly incident occurred early Tuesday near Tel al-Sultan in Rafah. Witnesses and health authorities say Israeli forces opened fire on crowds gathered near the humanitarian aid corridor.

The Israeli military confirmed opening fire but said it was in response to a perceived threat. “Troops carried out warning fire, and after suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin claimed the individuals “deviated significantly” from the designated humanitarian corridor and posed a threat to troops.

Footage from the scene showed wounded civilians arriving en masse at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Dr. Marwan al-Hams, head of field hospitals in Gaza, said medical teams are stretched to their limits.

“We can only admit new patients when someone in intensive care passes away,” he said. “Most of the injuries are from gunfire, concentrated in the upper body. We need urgent blood donations.”

One mother, Nawal Al-Masri, spoke out in anguish after her young son was injured. “This is not aid. It’s a trap,” she said. “My child went to collect a two-kilo bag of flour — is this what we call humanitarian support?”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the killings, calling them “unconscionable.” In a statement, he urged an impartial investigation and stressed the moral dilemma facing Gaza’s population.

“Palestinians are faced with the grimmest of choices: die of hunger or risk being killed while searching for food,” said Türk.

On Tuesday, the Red Cross described the growing frequency and scale of mass casualty events in Gaza as “deeply alarming,” highlighting the catastrophic impact on civilian life amid Israel’s ongoing blockade and military campaign.

The deadly shooting occurred near the Al-Alam roundabout, close to a known aid distribution point overseen by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The same area was the site of deadly incidents on both Sunday and Monday.

A post on GHF’s Facebook page early Tuesday had announced the opening of a southern distribution site and advised residents to use a designated corridor under IDF oversight. However, an hour later, the page stated the site would be closed. Despite the confusion, 21 trucks of food aid were later distributed, according to GHF, which claimed the distribution itself occurred "safely and without incident" inside its secure perimeter.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, defended the approach, insisting that bypassing Hamas in aid delivery was weakening the group’s control. “This direct aid is changing the situation on the ground,” she said.

But outside the secure aid zones, chaos continues to unfold.

Tuesday’s incident is the latest in a troubling pattern. On Monday, three people were shot dead near the same aid site. On Sunday, Palestinian officials reported 31 killed in another mass shooting. The IDF denied firing inside the distribution site but admitted to opening fire on individuals roughly one kilometer away.

With famine conditions worsening and over 11 weeks of a near-total blockade, civilians are increasingly risking their lives for food.

“The situation is becoming unspeakable,” said a diplomat monitoring the crisis. “What we’re witnessing is not just a humanitarian failure — it’s a collapse of the very systems meant to protect civilian life.”

In response to the violence, the GHF announced all distribution sites in Gaza will be closed on Wednesday to allow for logistical adjustments and for the Israeli military to “secure access routes.” The temporary closure comes amid calls for improved coordination to avoid further bloodshed.

As the conflict continues to intensify, the international community is again facing urgent questions: Can humanitarian aid reach those who need it most — and at what cost?


By WafricNews Desk.