UN Condemns Israeli Aid Zones in Gaza as “Death Traps” Amid Dozens Killed by Gunfire

Tone & Political Bias: Strongly Left-Leaning

Why: The report centers Palestinian civilian casualties, highlights UN condemnation of Israel and the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and presents Israeli denials with less prominence.

What’s Happening

At least 46 Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire in two separate incidents in central and southern Gaza while waiting for food aid, according to hospital sources and local rescuers. The UN has condemned the aid system operating in Gaza, labeling it as militarized and unsafe for civilians.

UN Slams Israel-Backed Aid System

The UN and its agencies, including UNRWA and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, criticized the GHF, an aid system backed by Israel and the US.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s head, called the mechanism “an abomination” and “a death trap” that has caused more deaths than it has saved.
The UN said more than 410 Palestinians have been killed since the GHF started operating in late May, even before the most recent incidents.
UN human rights spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan said the use of food as a weapon and the denial of access to humanitarian needs may amount to war crimes.

What Survivors And Witnesses Say

Umm Raed al-Nuaizi, a widow, said her son was shot while trying to collect flour for his family. He is now in critical condition.
A man at a site in Rafah described gunfire erupting as civilians waited in line for aid. “Blood got everywhere,” he told the BBC. “Everyone around us got wounded.”
Another father in Gaza City said he would not risk his life to collect food, describing the sites as “death zones.”

The Incidents In Detail

In central Gaza near Nuseirat, at least 21 were killed and 150 injured, according to al-Awda Hospital and the Civil Defence agency.
Footage from the hospital showed crowded emergency rooms, with some injured left lying on the floor and a dead man’s body being cradled by his wife.
In southern Gaza, near Rafah, another 25 were reportedly killed while waiting for food. Witnesses claim Israeli tanks advanced and fired without warning.
The IDF acknowledged some gunfire in central Gaza but denied any knowledge of an incident near Rafah.

Israel And The GHF Response

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is “reviewing the details” of the shooting near its Netzarim corridor operations.
Regarding Rafah, the IDF told the BBC it was unaware of any shooting incident at that aid distribution site.
The GHF denied any incident near its sites and said it continues to distribute aid independently with security contractors.
Israel sees the GHF as a tool to reduce Hamas control in Gaza, allowing the group to run aid centers instead of UN agencies.

Ongoing Concerns About Aid Delivery

Although Israel relaxed its total blockade of Gaza in May, the GHF remains controversial due to its opaque funding and links to military infrastructure.
The UN and major aid groups have refused to work with the GHF, citing violations of humanitarian neutrality.
Despite criticism, Israel allows limited aid trucks operated by the UN and independent organizations to enter Gaza.
The World Central Kitchen announced that aid reached its Gaza teams for the first time in 12 weeks, allowing them to resume food preparation.

Gaza’s Worsening Humanitarian Situation

Gaza remains on the brink of famine. Aid volumes remain insufficient despite partial deliveries.
Residents, especially in the north and central regions, continue to rely on food distribution points like those run by GHF, despite the risk.
Testimonies from multiple civilians suggest fear, desperation, and rising casualties at these aid locations.