Chaos and gunfire after Gaza aid program

A month after a controversial U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system in Gaza began, the BBC analyzed dozens of videos showing people traveling nearby to collect aid, as well as other moments of chaos and panic.

In several videos analyzed, gunfire can be heard and there is a number showing death or injury to Palestinians.

According to Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 500 people have been killed on their way to aid and 4,000 were injured in the past month – the vast majority blame Gaza officials and medical staff and witnesses for blame on the Israeli fire.

The BBC verified that the video has not been found, which allows for a definite assessment of who is responsible for the killing wave, but the overall situation is one of the confusion and ongoing dangers.

In statements over the past month, the IDF said several times that they fired a “warning” or posed a threat to individuals they called “suspects.”

The IDF told the BBC that Hamas did everything he could to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza, attempting to undermine aid and directly harm citizens of the Gaza Strip.

On May 18, Israel announced it would partially relax its blockade for 11-week aid attack on Gaza, saying it was to put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages.

The IDF has built four aid allocation sites – three aid allocation sites in the southwesternest Gaza, one in central Gaza, built by the Israeli Security Zone (Netzarim Corridor) in central Gaza, which began operations on May 26.

These locations are operated in areas controlled by IDF (called SDS 1, 2, 3 and 4) by security contractors working at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and the Israeli military secured the route to them and the periphery. On Thursday, the U.S. State Department announced $30 million (£22 million; €26 million) to the GHF, the first known direct donation by the group.

From the outset, the United Nations condemned the plan, saying it would “militarize” aid, bypass existing distribution networks and force Gazaians to travel long distances in dangerous areas to get food.

Within the days of the start of the plan, dozens of Palestinians died in separate incidents from June 1 to 3, sparking international condemnation. Since then, there have been reports of killing people gathering aid almost every day.

“Its power conducts a systematic learning process designed to improve operational responses in the region and minimize friction between population and IDF troops,” the IDF said.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the report of the person killed while receiving assistance was “another untrue”. “No hundreds of people died.”

GHF denies any “occurrence or death” occurred in any of its assigned locations.

The Red Cross said Tuesday that its field hospital in Rafa had to activate its massive casualties since May 27, with the vast majority of patients suffering gunshot wounds and said they had been traveling to the aid site.

The United Nations and its World Food Programme, as well as other aid providers, are continuing to try to distribute aid in the Gaza region, but they say they rely on Israeli authorities to promote their mission.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the killing of Palestinians who tried to obtain assistance was a “possible war crime.” International human rights lawyer Sara Elizabeth Dill told the BBC that if any intentional targeting civilians it could constitute a serious violation of international law.

“The mass shootings during civilian relief violate the core rules against civilians and using hunger to hunger on them may increase war crimes,” she said.

Three videos, the first one, published on June 9, show hundreds of people, some scrambling to hide in ditches on piles of rubble, holding something that appeared to be empty flour bags. Several automatic gunfires can be heard.

That day, Hamas-operated Health Ministry reported that six people were killed that morning while seeking assistance and more than 99 were injured. The next day, it reported 36 aid-related deaths and more than 208 injuries.

It is impossible to verify whether any of these casualties is the result of gunfire that can be heard in gunfire.

We were able to confirm that the videos were taken about 4 km (2.5 miles) northwest of the SDS4, on the way to the scene in central Gaza.

Steve Beck, a former FBI adviser, now runs Baker Audio Forensic, who said one of the gunshots sounded like it was fired at the same speed as the FN Minimi machine gun and the M4 assault rifle. Baker said the second gun fired at a speed “compatible” with the sound of the AK-47. We cannot determine that the IDF usually uses weapons with FN minimum and M4, while the AK-47 is usually used by other groups in Hamas and Gaza.

On the next day, in the video published on June 10, and filmed nearby, more crowds were heard in the distance, and the sound of gunfire was heard in panic, which then sounded like an explosion. Then the injured and bleeding person, including children, was seen being taken away.

GHF’s ​​map shows the website for “safe paragraphs” and communicates opening hours through WhatsApp and social media.

Each paragraph has a “starting point” and together with the Palestinians warn that they must not cross the latter until instructions are directed. GHF said the corridors were secured by the IDF and warned people that it could be dangerous unless told to cross these stops.

But on SDS4, there are no plans to have secure access for people coming from the north.

There are also killings close to non-GHF-related aid sites.

Verified videos starting June 17 showed at least 21 bodies and several injured people, several vehicles (including severely damaged flatbed trucks) parked.

Witnesses told the BBC that the IDF and a tank opened fire on the crowd while they were waiting to collect aid.

The IDF statement acknowledged that it had identified a “gathering” adjacent to the aid distribution truck, which was trapped in the Khan Yunis area and close to the IDF troops in the area. ”

It said: “The IDF realized the attitude of the people concerned, and reported people injured in the fire in the IDF.” It regretted “any harm was not involved in the individual” and said details of the incident were under review.

Hamas Gaza – A spokesman for the civil defense agency said at least 50 people were killed at the scene.

The video shows many dead people with scorch marks on the ground, including a legged man.

Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies notes that there is a lack of obvious impact on the crater, but telling us the extent of damage may be the result of “a lot of direct fires.”

Another video we have verified was released showing the body pulling a carriage along Al Rashid Street along the northern coastal road in Gaza, often used by aid convoys.

The videotape’s title claims that the Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid.

The next day, several photos and videos we verified were posted on nearby social media, showing the bodies of several men carrying along the same road.

GHF claims many of the so-called events are related to the convoys and distribution locations of other groups, including the United Nations. It said the aid supplies were “robbed by criminals and bad actors.”

A GHF spokesman said its first month of operations was generally “satisfactory”, with 46 million meals allocated to 2 million Gazans, but aiming to expand its capacity.

The IDF says that in other changes, it is to install fences and signs and turn on other routes.

A GHF spokesman said: “We raised concerns about (with IDF) about safe passage for help seekers, but unfortunately some people are trying to make dangerous shortcuts or travel within limited time.”

“Ultimately, the solution is more aid, which will make the population more certain and less urgency.”

Other reports and verifications by Paul Brown, Emma Pengelly, Lemees Altalebi, Richard Irvine-Brown, Benedict Garman, Alex Murray, Kumar Malhotra and Thomas Spencer.