**Tragedy Unfolds in Gaza: At Least 20 Killed in Aid Distribution Centre Chaos**
A devastating incident has occurred at a distribution centre for aid in southern Gaza, leaving at least 20 people dead and many more injured. The tragedy unfolded when thousands of Palestinians gathered at the centre, which was managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), to receive food and assistance.
Eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene, with people being trampled and crushed as they attempted to access the aid. A witness who filmed a video of six men and boys lying dead on stretchers said that the victims were crushed between fences at the GHF site while waiting for food. The video, which has been confirmed by the BBC, shows a man shouting in outrage, “What happened was that the foreigners built a fence at the front of the aid site… They made one here and another here. The boys went up front and people stepped on them.”
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-Israel-backed organisation, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that armed Hamas agents were responsible for the unrest. However, this claim has been disputed by other witnesses and the Government Media Office, which alleged that security contractors hired by the GHF closed the gates after thousands of people gathered in narrow channels, leading to the crush.
**Aid Distribution System Under Fire**
The incident highlights the difficulties faced by Palestinians in accessing aid in Gaza. The UN has refused to cooperate with the GHF’s distribution system, citing concerns over its ethics and effectiveness. Since the GHF began operations in late May, there have been reports almost daily of Palestinians being shot dead while seeking help.
Thameen AlKheetan, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, urged Israel, the occupying force, to facilitate full and unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian assistance commensurate to the needs of the civil population. The UN has reported 674 deaths in the last six weeks in the vicinity of GHF’s four sites located in southern and central Gaza.
**Israel Acknowledges Incidents**
The Israeli military acknowledged last week that there were incidents where civilians were harmed, and that it was working hard to minimize possible frictions between the population and the forces. However, the exact circumstances surrounding this latest tragedy remain unclear, with both sides pointing fingers at each other.
As the international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one thing is certain: the people of Gaza deserve access to aid without fear of violence or harm. The incident at the distribution centre serves as a stark reminder of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the need for urgent action to address it.
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