A deadly Israeli airstrike on a food distribution center in the central Gaza Strip has killed at least 33 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The strike occurred near the Nuseirat refugee camp and targeted a site where aid was reportedly being distributed to civilians.
The incident, which took place on Sunday, has drawn sharp condemnation from humanitarian groups and international observers, as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its ninth month with growing concerns over civilian casualties and an intensifying humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the strike hit an area where civilians had gathered to receive desperately needed food aid. It added that, in addition to the 33 people killed, dozens more were injured, some critically. Many of the victims are believed to be women and children.
Video footage from the aftermath shows widespread devastation at the site, with bodies wrapped in cloth and rescue teams scrambling to retrieve the wounded from the rubble. The scene has become grimly familiar in Gaza, where Israel’s continued bombardment has decimated infrastructure and left the majority of the population dependent on humanitarian aid.
The Israeli military has acknowledged conducting airstrikes in the area but claims the target was a Hamas weapons facility. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the strike was based on “precise intelligence” and that efforts were made to minimize civilian harm. The IDF did not directly address the reported deaths at the aid distribution point.
A spokesperson for the IDF said an investigation into the civilian casualties is underway, but reiterated Israel’s stance that Hamas operates among civilian populations, making military operations complex and dangerous.
Hamas has denied that the site had any military purpose and called the attack a “massacre against starving civilians.” The group accused Israel of deliberately targeting relief operations in an effort to increase pressure on the population of Gaza.
The United Nations and several humanitarian organizations operating in the region expressed deep concern over the incident. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), stated that “attacks on humanitarian facilities and aid distribution points are unacceptable and may constitute a breach of international humanitarian law.”
He added that the UN has repeatedly warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with access to food and clean water severely limited due to ongoing hostilities and Israel’s control over aid entry points.
The U.S. State Department said it was seeking more information about the incident and reiterated calls for both sides to protect civilians and facilitate the safe delivery of aid. A spokesperson for the EU said the strike “raises serious questions” about Israel’s compliance with international obligations, and called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further civilian loss of life.
The attack comes amid a broader intensification of Israeli operations in central and southern Gaza. Over the past week, Israeli ground forces have re-entered areas previously declared cleared of Hamas fighters, including parts of Rafah, prompting further displacement of already vulnerable civilians.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict since October 2023, the majority of them civilians. Israel launched its military campaign following a deadly Hamas assault on southern Israeli towns that killed around 1,200 people and led to the capture of over 250 hostages.
With diplomatic efforts stalled and ceasefire negotiations faltering, aid agencies warn that the humanitarian crisis is deepening. Sunday’s airstrike at the aid distribution site has once again underscored the high human cost of the war and the urgent need for an end to the hostilities.
Source; DW News
