At least 47 people were injured and one man was killed in Rafah, Gaza, on Tuesday during a chaotic aid distribution at a center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The foundation is a new and controversial group backed by the United States and Israel. The UN Human Rights Office said most injuries were likely caused by gunfire. A UN official stated that initial reports showed the gunfire came from the Israel Defense Forces.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry confirmed one death and said 48 others were wounded during the incident. The man who died was identified as Salem Abu Moussa. He was first taken to a field hospital run by the Red Cross in Rafah, and later moved to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where he died from his injuries.
The IDF said it was reviewing the incident. An army spokesperson explained that troops fired warning shots into the air near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid center in Rafah. The military stressed that no shots were fired directly at the people.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new group that distributes aid separately from the United Nations. The group uses private US security contractors and does not follow the UN’s usual aid delivery system. The UN has strongly criticized the group’s operations, calling them unsafe and unethical.
The US and Israeli governments support the foundation’s work. They argue that aid given through the group is protected from being taken by Hamas. Hamas leaders deny that they steal aid.
The incident took place in Rafah, a city in the south of Gaza that is under full Israeli military control. On Tuesday afternoon, large crowds gathered at the aid center to receive food and supplies. Thousands of men, women, and children flooded the area as they searched for help. Videos posted on social media showed people tearing down fences and pushing past barriers to reach the aid trucks.
In some video clips, gunshots could be heard as people ran for safety. Reports say the situation quickly got out of control as the crowd became larger and harder to manage. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation later said that its team pulled back during the event to prevent injuries and allow people to take the aid safely.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, around 47 people were injured during the event. They said most of the injuries appeared to be gunshot wounds. UN staff are still collecting more details about the level of damage and the seriousness of the injuries. The Israeli army said it was not aware of anyone being harmed by its soldiers but added that it is checking the claims.
Tuesday’s incident comes at a time of deep crisis in Gaza. Over two million people are trapped in the territory, facing extreme shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The situation became worse after Israel launched a full blockade of Gaza nearly three months ago. That blockade was slightly relaxed last week, but aid is still arriving slowly.
The World Food Programme has warned that about half of Gaza’s population is facing severe hunger. Many children are showing signs of malnutrition. Doctors in the area say they are running out of medicine, clean water, and electricity. Hospitals are struggling to care for patients.
The United Nations and other aid groups have called for safe and regular access to the people in Gaza. They have asked Israel to allow humanitarian teams to work freely and without risk. They also warned that bypassing trusted systems with private groups like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation may put lives at greater risk.
Despite warnings, the foundation continues its work with support from both the US and Israel. It claims its approach is more secure and prevents aid from falling into the wrong hands. Critics argue that these systems lack transparency and create confusion during an already dangerous time.
The event in Rafah shows the risks that come with running aid operations in such a tense and heavily controlled area. As hunger grows and more people seek help, future aid efforts must avoid chaos and violence. Many in the international community are now urging for a better system that puts civilian safety first.
