Watan-A CNN investigation has concluded that the Israeli army was responsible for the deadly massacre that occurred early last Sunday, when thousands of Palestinians were trying to access a U.S.-backed aid distribution center operated by the Israel-supported “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” near southwestern Rafah, close to the Egyptian border.
According to the investigation, Israeli tanks opened fire with machine guns on the waiting crowds, killing over 30 civilians and injuring nearly 200.
The report cites dozens of eyewitnesses, including the wounded, who confirmed that Israeli forces fired indiscriminately and heavily at the civilians. The “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” also acknowledged that Israeli forces were operating nearby at the time.
CNN verified videos showing that the massacre took place about 800 meters from the heavily militarized aid distribution center in Tel al-Sultan, near a traffic roundabout where hundreds had gathered.
The report highlights that the road leading to the aid site—Al-Rashid Street—is under Israeli military control, with troops stationed at a nearby base. Weapons experts told CNN that the rate of gunfire heard in the footage and bullet types found in the victims matched Israeli tank-mounted machine guns. Multiple witnesses also confirmed seeing gunfire coming from nearby Israeli tanks.
While no single video confirmed the exact shooter, audio analysis and eyewitness accounts strongly indicate that Israeli forces triggered the chaos and violence, turning a humanitarian gathering into a massacre.
Chaos at Aid Sites, Displacement, and Growing Criticism
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations about ten days prior, but its aid distributions have been plagued by chaos, with several reports of fatal Israeli fire near its centers. The Israeli army confirmed the temporary closure of these sites, warning people to avoid the “combat zones” around distribution roads.
Eyewitnesses told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the massacre took place between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m. near Al-Alam Roundabout on the Gaza shore, as civilians awaited food parcels. When early arrivals tried to flee back to the beach to escape tank fire, Israeli navy boats opened fire from the sea, targeting those who had taken refuge on the shoreline.
Inside the distribution center itself, people were shocked to find only four aid trucks, woefully inadequate for the large crowd. Under fire and with no aid in hand, most left empty-handed, while dozens never made it back home—returning in coffins instead, as their families endure both grief and hunger.
There is growing criticism of the U.S.-Israeli aid mechanism, which bypasses United Nations agencies, and is seen by many as ignoring basic humanitarian principles. Palestinian and international voices are increasingly demanding a return to UN-supervised aid delivery, warning that the current approach exacerbates suffering and risks more bloodshed.
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