Israeli Forces Massacre Dozens in Gaza Aid Line as UN-Condemned Distribution Sites Labeled “Death Traps”
Over 50 Killed in Khan Younis While Seeking Food Aid; Tribal Leaders Warn Civilians to Avoid Israeli-Controlled Zones Amid Ongoing Siege.
Watan-At least 51 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured—some critically—on Tuesday morning by Israeli gunfire while waiting for humanitarian food aid in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The total number of Palestinian martyrs for the day has now risen to 63 in 24 hours, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing medical sources.
The Civil Defense in Gaza confirmed that at least 47 were killed and more than 200 injured, including children, in what it described as a “new massacre against the starving.”
Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said:“At least 47 martyrs and over 200 injuries, including children, were transported to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after Israeli forces opened fire on thousands gathered near a flour distribution center by the desalination plant.”
Aid Points Turned Into Kill Zones
Overcrowding was reported across emergency, ICU, and surgical units as medical teams operated with critically limited supplies. Israeli forces also fired at aid-seekers near the al-Akwakh area west of Rafah.
For weeks, Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked aid distribution points, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. The UN has confirmed that these attacks appear aimed at forcible displacement and may be part of a strategy of ethnic cleansing.
Since the activation of a new aid distribution mechanism on May 27, 2025, over 300 Palestinians have been killed at such locations.
The “Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation,” an Israeli-American organization rejected by the UN, is accused of operating aid points that have become death traps, forcing Palestinians to risk death for survival under catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
Tribal Warnings and Civil Society Reactions
In response, tribal leaders in Gaza have called on civilians to avoid border zones and aid distribution points supervised by the Israeli army.
The High Council for Palestinian Tribes issued a statement:
“Citizens must immediately stop heading to these areas, which are nothing but deadly traps leading to the slaughter of our defenseless people.”
The council emphasized ongoing coordination with international bodies to establish safe and dignified aid channels, and urged full cooperation with humanitarian agencies to protect lives and dignity.
عشرات الشهداء والمصابين يصلون إلى مجمع ناصر الطبي نتيجة ارتكاب #الاحتلال لمجزرة كبيرة بحق المواطنين المنتظرين للمساعدات في محافظة #خان_يونس جنوبي قطاع #غزة قبل قليل.#تفاعل ليصل إليك كل جديد pic.twitter.com/bVQTmKGQRd
— TRT عربي (@TRTArabi) June 17, 2025
The National Assembly of Palestinian Tribes and Families confirmed upcoming aid deliveries, especially flour, and stated that distribution would occur under tribal supervision in partnership with WFP, OCHA, and UNRWA, ensuring protection, dignity, and transparency.
They also warned against looting or exploiting aid, calling such behavior an insult to national sacrifice, and highlighted that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is worsening daily.
Euro-Med Monitor Demands Sanctions on U.S.-Israeli “Aid” Entity
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor held the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation” directly responsible for enabling Israel’s targeting of starving civilians.
The group accused the foundation of coordinating with the Israeli military to lure civilians into exposed aid centers, where they are then targeted—turning these sites into “death traps” used in what it called acts of genocide.
Euro-Med called for:
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An independent international investigation into the foundation’s role
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Criminal accountability for those involved
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Immediate cessation of financial/logistical support
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Inclusion of the foundation on “blacklists” of entities violating international law
The organization stressed that the ongoing use of these sites, despite more than 335 documented civilian deaths in three weeks, constitutes direct participation in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a violation of humanitarian neutrality.
Legal Implications for Supporting States
Euro-Med warned that countries providing political or military support to Israel while these massacres occur may face international legal consequences for complicity in war crimes.
It concluded that daily killings of Palestinians seeking basic aid represent a systematic violation of international law, requiring urgent global intervention and accountability.
