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A desperate scramble for humanitarian aid in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip turned into a horrific tragedy on Wednesday, as at least 20 Palestinians were killed in a crush at a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial organization backed by the United States and Israel. The devastating incident in Khan Younis adds another grim chapter to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where desperation for basic necessities has become a daily, life-threatening struggle. While the GHF attributed the fatalities to a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators, Palestinian health officials and eyewitnesses presented a different, equally harrowing account, pointing to suffocation, the use of crowd control measures, and the sheer volume of people vying for sustenance in an impossibly confined space.
The specific circumstances leading to the fatal crush remain contested. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began its operations in May 2025 as an alternative aid distribution mechanism to existing UN and NGO channels, released a statement claiming that 19 people were trampled and one fatally stabbed amid what it described as a "chaotic and dangerous surge." The GHF asserted that it had "credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd – armed and affiliated with Hamas – deliberately fomented the unrest," and noted the presence of firearms within the crowd for the first time since its operations commenced. This narrative suggests an intentional disruption leading to the stampede.
However, accounts from Palestinian health officials and numerous eyewitnesses paint a different picture, emphasizing the role of severe overcrowding and the actions of those attempting to control the desperate masses. Gaza's Health Ministry reported that at least 21 people died, primarily from suffocation and the intense stampede. Medics at nearby Nasser Hospital described victims arriving with injuries consistent with being crushed, highlighting the sheer density of people crammed into a small area. Witnesses recounted a terrifying scene where aid-seekers were trapped between locked gates and an outer wire fence, their escape routes cut off. Many also alleged that guards at the site deployed pepper spray, tear gas, and stun grenades into the throng, inciting panic and contributing directly to the stampede. Abdullah Alian, a survivor, described the mayhem unfolding as people were hit with crowd control agents, leading to a desperate surge. "When they saw people starting to die on the ground and people on top of each other suffocating, they opened the gate and people started climbing on top of each other," he said, though it remained unclear who deployed the agents – GHF contractors, Israeli forces, or another party.
The incident underscores the perilous environment surrounding aid distribution in Gaza, where the severe scarcity of food and other essentials forces a desperate population to risk their lives. The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) recently reported that as of July 13, 2025, 875 people in Gaza have been killed while attempting to obtain food. A staggering 674 of these deaths occurred in the vicinity of GHF sites, with the remaining 201 near UN or UN-partner convoys. This tragic tally includes numerous instances where witnesses and health officials have reported casualties from Israeli gunfire at or near these distribution points, although the Israeli military denies targeting civilians and claims it fires warning shots only when soldiers are threatened.
The GHF itself has been a subject of considerable criticism since its inception. Formed in February 2025 and supported by both the US and Israeli governments, it was intended to facilitate aid delivery amidst claims by Israel that existing channels were being diverted by Hamas. However, numerous aid organizations and humanitarian experts have raised concerns about the GHF's structure, which involves military contractors rather than seasoned humanitarian professionals, its lack of transparency and independence, and its limited distribution points compared to the vast needs of the Gaza Strip. Critics argue that this model militarizes aid, compromises humanitarian principles of neutrality, and ultimately puts civilian lives at greater risk. Jake Wood, the GHF's initial executive director and a former US Marine, reportedly resigned in May, citing concerns that the organization could not operate in a manner consistent with humanitarian principles.
The latest fatalities in Khan Younis further intensify the scrutiny on the GHF's operations and the overall approach to humanitarian aid in Gaza. The UN Human Rights Office spokesperson, Thameen Al-Kheetan, noted that the killings linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed aid hubs began shortly after they started operating, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs. The recurring incidents of mass casualties around these sites have led some survivors and aid groups to label them as "traps" or "death traps" rather than safe havens for aid. Doctors Without Borders has even described the conditions around these distributions as "slaughter masquerading as aid."
This recent tragedy in Khan Younis adds urgency to calls for a fundamental re-evaluation of aid distribution mechanisms in Gaza. With an estimated 58,000 Palestinians killed since the war began in October 2023, and widespread famine looming, the desperate need for food, medicine, and shelter continues to mount. The international community faces a critical challenge: to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, safely and effectively, without inadvertently creating further risks or contributing to the tragic loss of life. The 20 lives lost in the Khan Younis crush are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when the basic human right to sustenance is intertwined with conflict, chaos, and deeply flawed delivery systems.
Source@BBC