by Temitope Oladeji
03/06/2025
At least 27 Palestinians were killed near Rafah while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to local health officials in Gaza on Tuesday.
The Israeli military acknowledged firing on individuals approximately half a kilometer from the U.S.-backed aid distribution center, claiming the individuals were approaching in a manner that “posed a threat” to Israeli forces.
Despite multiple reports of fatal incidents near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid site in recent days, the Israeli military maintains that it does not obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza residents.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that restricting access to food and relief supplies for civilians could amount to a war crime.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated, “Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.”
The UN has called for an independent investigation into the killings of Palestinians near the U.S.-supported aid distribution point in southern Gaza.
In a separate development, the Israeli military reported that three of its soldiers were killed in northern Gaza on Monday, the deadliest loss for Israeli forces since the end of a ceasefire with Hamas in March.
The soldiers, all in their early 20s, reportedly died in an explosion in the Jabaliya area.
Their deaths came shortly after Hamas’ armed wing claimed its fighters were involved in intense combat with Israeli forces in the region.
The ceasefire broke down in March after Hamas refused to amend the terms of a hostage release agreement.
Since then, Israeli military operations have escalated, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 54,000 Palestinians killed, primarily women and children.
The ministry does not specify how many were civilians versus combatants.
Israel, meanwhile, claims to have killed about 20,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to support that figure.
Hamas launched the war with its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, during which approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 hostages taken.
Of those, 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about one-third believed to be alive.
Israel reports that around 860 of its soldiers have died since the onset of the conflict, including over 400 during operations inside Gaza.