Gaza Aid Site Attack: 31 Palestinians Killed, Eyewitnesses Blame Israel

Dozens of Palestinians Killed Near Gaza Aid Site; Eyewitnesses Blame Israeli Gunfire Rafah, Gaza – A tragic incident unfolded in Rafah, Gaza, on Sunday, June 1, 2025, leaving at least 31 Palestinians dead and scores injured near an aid distribution site. The Palestinian health ministry, hospital officials, and multiple eyewitnesses claim Israeli gunfire was the cause of the deaths. Graphic video footage obtained by CNN shows the aftermath of the event, depicting the chaos and grief among those present. "People were crouching down in fear as bullets whizzed over their heads," recounted one eyewitness, her voice choked with emotion. Doctors at local hospitals described numerous head and chest wounds consistent with gunshot injuries. The Israeli military, however, denies any responsibility for the deaths, stating that its troops did not fire within or near the aid distribution site. An Israeli military source acknowledged that Israeli troops fired what they described as warning shots at a location about one kilometer away. This statement is notable given that the attack took place at the Al-Alam roundabout, only about one kilometer from the aid distribution site. Philippe Lazzarini, the executive director of UNRWA, the main UN agency in the Palestinian territories, has called the situation a "death trap." He and other humanitarian aid officials are urging the Israeli government to open border crossings and allow the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza to avoid a repeat of this tragedy. The incident underscores the urgent need for safe and accessible aid distribution in the region.