90 people killed in Gaza: UN Accuses Israel Of Militarising Humanitarian Assistance

In the last 24 hours, Palestine has accounted for over 90 deaths due to Israeli attacks. Several Palestinians have been injured in attacks by Israeli settlers on Kafr Malek, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. 

On 25 June, Hamas planted bombs on Israeli military vehicles in Khan Younis, killing seven Israeli soldiers according to their military reports. The troops belonged to the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion. Hamas later claimed responsibility for the bombing. This is one of the deadliest attacks the Israeli army has faced in months. 

Local authorities have also reported Israeli gunfire and airstrikes in the Sheikh Radwan suburb in Gaza City. These firings killed at least 21 people, including families housing in the local school and those residing in the area. 

Following these events on Thursday, nearly 33 people were shot dead as Israeli troops opened fire on crowds of Palestinians awaiting Gaza Humanitarian Fund aid at the US-backed aid distribution centres. Three people were also reported to have been killed at the UN aid sites. These incidents are among the latest attacks in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

UN Condemns Israel Weaponising Aid

On 24 June, the UN openly condemned Israel’s actions regarding Israeli attacks at UN aid centres in Gaza. Calling this an inhuman “abomination”, the UN demanded that Israeli troops "stop shooting at people trying to get food".

Labelling it as a “war crime”, UN human rights office spokesman: Thameen Al-Kheetan, spoke strongly about Israel restricting and preventing Palestinians’ access to life-sustaining services and aid.

He added, “Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution," regarding the US funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation present in Gaza. 

UN has refused to collaborate with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, claiming the US funding behind the organisation is “an opaque death trap” and is being "used to further Israel’s agenda," said by Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Since last month, over 400 Palestinians have been killed at centres of GHF, according to Gaza's health ministry. 

This comes a month after the UN said that "100 per cent of the population" of the besieged territory (Gaza) were "at risk of famine".

Meanwhile, GHF responded to these accusations on Monday, stating it had distributed roughly 680,000 food boxes so far. "GHF workers continue to provide meals safely and securely," said the foundation's interim chief, John Acree. "Our system is working, and we will press on," he added.