Israeli soldiers stationed at Gaza aid distribution sites have allegedly been ordered to fire on unarmed Palestinians seeking food assistance, according to an investigative report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The article cites unnamed soldiers who described the systematic use of machine guns and grenades to disperse crowds.
Some soldiers referred to the aid sites as “killing fields”, noting that between one and five people were killed daily in some areas. The report detailed incidents where civilians were shot even when they posed no threat, with some advancing under fog before being targeted.
The Israeli army has strongly rejected these allegations. In a statement, it denied recognising “any deliberate fire towards civilians” and promised that any deviation from legal or military directives would be thoroughly investigated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz called the report a “blood libel”, defending the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as operating under strict orders to avoid harming innocents.
In response to the allegations, Israel’s Military Advocate General instructed the General Staff’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism to investigate potential war crimes. The investigation focuses on incidents at sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid initiative backed by Israel and the United States.
The Gaza Government Media Office reported that at least 549 Palestinians have been killed and 4,066 injured at GHF distribution sites since May. The sites have become increasingly dangerous, with medics reporting multiple shootings as desperate Palestinians queue for food.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has repeatedly criticised the situation.
In a statement on 23 June 2025, MSF condemned Israel’s restrictions on aid as “deliberate and inhumane” following a deadly attack near an aid site in Khan Younis that killed over 51 people and injured more than 200.
MSF accused Israeli authorities of weaponising aid and enforcing policies that intentionally limit medical, food, and fuel supplies.
Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Gaza, said, “The charade of only allowing medical and fuel supplies at the very last-minute ahead of a looming disaster is nothing but a band aid on a gushing wound. The weaponisation of aid must end.”
MSF reported severe shortages in hospitals, including a 190% increase in gunshot wound cases within a week.
Clinics were forced to operate without gauze, essential medications, or power, severely compromising care for children and newborns. Fuel shortages further exacerbated the crisis by crippling water desalination and ambulance services.
The World Health Organisation confirmed a mass casualty incident at Khan Younis and noted a pattern of violence near food sites.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk accused Israel of weaponising food and called for a thorough investigation. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned of an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe amid declining global attention.
Critics argue that the GHF’s design, intended to bypass UN agencies and exert greater Israeli control, has contributed to chaos and desperation. Verified footage and witness testimonies suggest repeated shootings at civilians trying to access aid.
Since the escalation of the war in October 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports at least 56,331 Palestinians have been killed and 132,632 injured. The most recent offensive alone has caused thousands of deaths and injuries in just a few months.
MSF has stated that its teams are witnessing patterns “consistent with genocide”, citing deliberate mass killings and the dismantling of essential infrastructure for civilian survival. Humanitarian agencies warn of an imminent collapse unless decisive international action is taken.
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