Local health officials reported that Israeli forces killed six Palestinians near an aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday night, marking the fourth such incident in a week. According to Marwan Al-Hams, director of field hospitals for the Palestinian Health Ministry, the victims were gathered in hopes of receiving aid when the incident occurred, though no identities have been disclosed. NBC News has not independently verified the casualties but notes the World Health Organization considers the Health Ministry’s data reliable.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the incident, stating troops fired “warning shots” at “several suspects” in the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp, who they believed posed a threat. They claimed the area was marked as an active combat zone during nighttime hours, adding that warnings were given before shots were fired. However, the IDF did not define the perceived threat and did not take responsibility for the reported deaths while indicating awareness of casualty reports.
This week’s incidents have escalated dramatically; on Sunday, over 30 individuals were reportedly killed in Rafah, and similar violence was noted earlier in the week, with three Palestinians dead and dozens injured at a food distribution site, followed by another incident resulting in at least 27 fatalities. Eyewitness accounts described gunfire from both aerial and ground forces while they awaited assistance.
The IDF reiterated that it viewed individuals approaching its troops as threats, though it characterized all casualty claims as unsubstantiated. Witness videos captured the chaos as wounded individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis in the region.
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