The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it fired several rounds in the direction of Palestinians who were advancing toward troops after ignoring initial “warning” shots.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported that 13 people were killed in the incident, which the Israel Defense Forces said took place roughly 500 yards from an aid distribution site. Other reports have the fatality count much higher.
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The standoff began when the Palestinian group started making its way toward the IDF, which identified the unit as a threat and fired warning shots for the group to stop advancing, according to the Israeli military. The IDF said that when the group “failed to retreat,” it fired rounds “directed near” several people who continued veering away from aid and toward Israeli troops.
“Earlier today, during the movement of the crowd along the designated routes toward the aid distribution site—approximately half a kilometer from the site—IDF troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes,” the IDF said. “IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.”
“The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects who advanced toward the troops. The IDF is aware of reports regarding casualties, and the details of the incident are being looked into,” the statement continued.
The exchange happened close to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the site of a new aid operation backed by the United States and Israel that distributes vital items to Palestinians in Gaza. The strategy marks a striking departure from traditional aid distribution, which flowed through Hamas, the terrorist entity that controls Gaza and has been scrutinized for keeping supplies from starving civilians or charging them to obtain the goods.
Critics of the new aid operation said it could expose civilians to danger as they traverse dangerous territory to obtain aid. Others argued Hamas is attempting to sabotage GHF because it has lost control of vital supplies that keep the terrorist network afloat.
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In another alleged incident near GHF on Sunday, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said 31 people were killed when the IDF opened gunfire on crowds attempting to obtain aid.
The IDF staunchly rebuffed the claims. GHF denied that such a “massacre” occurred and released video evidence it said proved the alleged attack was a lie.