At dawn in Rafah, crowds gathered near a U.S.-backed aid distribution center when tension erupted into tragedy. Gaza's civil defense agency reported on Saturday that Israeli forces killed at least 36 Palestinians, including six shot near the Al-Alam roundabout just 1 km from the center.
The Israeli military told AFP that troops had fired "warning shots" at individuals they said were "advancing in a way that endangered the troops." Officials maintain the response was defensive, even as humanitarian groups raise alarms over civilian safety.
The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) had resumed aid distributions earlier in the week after a brief suspension due to similar incidents. On Saturday, the GHF announced it paused operations again amid "direct threats" from Hamas, highlighting the precarious nature of relief efforts.
Later the same day, Israeli forces carried out an operation in Gaza City, killing Asaad Abu Sharia, identified as the head of the Mujahideen Brigades, an Islamic Jihad\u00096aligned group accused of involvement in recent hostage killings.
Intensified Israeli operations across Gaza reflect a broader push to weaken Hamas, while Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports the death toll in the war has reached 54,772, the majority of them civilians.
As humanitarian corridors close and security risks grow, the crisis underscores urgent questions: How can aid reach those who need it most, and what diplomatic steps could prevent further loss of life? For many young global citizens, this stark moment calls for deeper dialogue and collective action.
Reference(s):
Gaza civil defense: 36 killed by Israeli forces, six near aid center
cgtn.com
