At least 20 Palestinians were killed today at a humanitarian aid distribution point managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with the U.S.-backed organization reporting a crowd surge that descended into chaos, allegedly incited by armed agitators.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights states that it has recorded at least 875 deaths over the past six weeks near aid distribution sites and convoys in Gaza, most of them near GHF distribution points.
The GHF, which is supported by Israel, said that 19 people were trampled and one person was stabbed in the chaotic crowd at one of its centers in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
“We have credible reasons to believe that individuals within the crowd — armed and affiliated with Hamas — deliberately incited the disturbance,” the GHF said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.
Palestinian health officials told Reuters that at least 20 people died from suffocation at the scene. One medical worker said many people were crammed into a small area and were trampled.
The GHF, which began distributing food packages in Gaza in late May after Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on humanitarian aid, has previously rejected criticism from the United Nations, accusing the organization of spreading misinformation.
The United Nations has described the model used by GHF as “inherently unsafe” and a violation of humanitarian principles of impartiality.
GHF operates outside the UN-coordinated aid distribution system and uses private American security and logistics companies to deliver supplies into Gaza — an approach that, according to Israel, reduces the risk of looting by Hamas — an allegation the group denies.
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