ALWAGHT- The Guardian’s investigation connects Israeli fire to over 1,300 Palestinian fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries near Gaza food distribution centers operated by the US- and Israeli-supported GHF.
A Guardian investigation has documented repeated gunfire near food distribution sites in Gaza operated by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), causing over 2,000 Palestinian injuries in just 48 days, most from gunshot wounds. Video evidence, bullet casings, and expert analysis link the gunfire to Israeli military weapons. Hospitals in Gaza reported a surge of gunshot wounds, mostly sustained while civilians were trying to collect food.
The investigation highlights particularly dangerous incidents near GHF sites in northern Rafah, where crowds visible from satellite images came under machine-gun fire multiple times. Victims described random shootings, with some incidents killing and injuring dozens. The Israeli military admitted firing warning shots or targeting “suspects” on some days but denied intentionally harming civilians, while some GHF officials denied incidents near their facilities.
Medical experts noted patterns in injuries that suggest targeted shooting of civilians at aid sites. Wounds often clustered around sensitive body parts, and hospitals treated thousands from such attacks, with many patients dead on arrival. Despite Israeli claims that Hamas stole aid, independent checks found no evidence, and the GHF operation began after Israel promised to ease the siege to allow humanitarian access.
International law experts condemned the shootings as violations of the Geneva Conventions and possible war crimes, calling the targeting of unarmed civilians at food sites unlawful and disproportionate. Aid groups described the situation as a “deadly scheme,” and reports surfaced of Israeli soldiers being ordered to fire on Palestinians collecting food. Israel denied deliberate targeting, citing efforts to improve safety.
Meanwhile, Gaza faces a deepening humanitarian crisis with widespread starvation worsening amid the blockade. Nearly 200 people have died of starvation, but experts warn that simply delivering food is not enough to address severe malnutrition. Specialized medical care is essential to prevent life-threatening complications in malnourished patients, especially children, as food aid alone cannot resolve the crisis.
