At least 30 Palestinians were killed and more than 150 injured when Israeli forces opened fire near a U.S. aid distribution site in Rafah on June 1, according to Al Jazeera reporters on the ground.

The deadly incident occurred west of Rafah in southern Gaza, where crowds of Palestinians had gathered in hopes of receiving humanitarian aid. Eyewitnesses and journalists reported that Israeli military vehicles opened fire on the group, resulting in mass casualties. A report by Quds News Network noted that nine victims were killed while approaching a distribution point.

Gazan authorities have warned repeatedly that conditions around distribution sites—particularly those not under UN supervision—are highly dangerous. This latest attack has intensified concerns that the Israeli military is deliberately targeting civilians attempting to access food.

Crisis in Gaza Deepens Amid Starvation Warnings

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the toll from attacks near U.S. aid distribution points has been steadily rising, with some victims still unaccounted for. Humanitarian organizations say that Israel has restricted humanitarian crossings and severely limited food supplies, despite widespread hunger.

The UN has previously accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, citing the 90-day-long closure of border crossings that prevents food and aid deliveries to Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.

U.S.-Backed Distribution Under Scrutiny

The aid involved in the Rafah incident was reportedly facilitated through an Israeli-backed group known as the “Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation,” operating without international oversight. Distribution has taken place in so-called “buffer zones” in southern Gaza—areas that have become flashpoints due to overcrowding, hunger, and a lack of coordination.

Observers fear that such U.S.-supported aid efforts, conducted outside of UN mechanisms, may be contributing to disorder and insecurity rather than providing effective relief.

Background: Gaza Under Siege Since October 2023

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, Israel has faced widespread condemnation for its military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, including large numbers of children and women. The blockade of humanitarian aid and systematic destruction of infrastructure have sparked accusations of genocide and forced displacement.

Aid convoys have been repeatedly attacked, and food distribution remains minimal despite catastrophic levels of hunger. More than 11,000 people are reported missing, and nearly the entire population is reliant on external aid to survive.