Middle East Palestinians face indiscriminate gunfire at food sites

[CharlieH]

 

Gaza is in turmoil as Palestinians face machine-gun fire near food distribution sites!

 

In a devastating revelation, The Guardian exposes a severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Palestinian civilians gathering at food distribution sites are reportedly being targeted by Israeli gunfire. With tensions soaring, the life-threatening situation has drawn international outrage and demands urgent attention.

Ehab Nuor, a 23-year-old barber, is among those who have dangerously faced gunfire. Desperate to collect essential food supplies, Nuor has repeatedly come under fire near distribution centres. His testimony is part of a broader investigation uncovering alarming patterns of violence against hunger-stricken civilians.

An extensive Guardian inquiry, involving footage analysis, interviews with medical experts, and gunfire pattern studies over nearly 50 days, has documented that over 2,000 Palestinians have been injured. Tragically, more than 100 individuals were declared dead upon arrival at medical facilities, directly linking their injuries to attempts to access basic sustenance.

 

Footage from more than 30 videos, alongside medical data from hospitals in Khan Younis and Rafah, outlines a sustained pattern of firing on Palestinian civilians. The compelling evidence indicates that Israeli soldiers have repeatedly targeted crowds during aid distribution. This has resulted in thousands being injured and scores killed, constituting a potential violation of international humanitarian law.

 

Several videos depict the chaos and danger faced by civilians. Machine-gun fire is audible, with bullet casings suggesting they belong to Israeli military munitions. Instances of indiscriminate gunfire have been documented on at least 11 separate occasions, all near food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

 

For Nuor and others, the risk is all too real. “This is how we get flour in Gaza. We just want to live – enough is enough,” Nuor lamented.

Medical professionals have been overwhelmed. Over 2,200 patients have been treated at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah alone since May, the majority for gunshot wounds. Doctors describe an unprecedented number of injuries, revealing an unmistakable pattern of targeted shooting primarily affecting those arriving at food sites.

 

Mohammed Sleiman Abu Lebda, a 20-year-old Palestinian, recalls the harrowing experience of being caught under fire while waiting for hours at a distribution site. “The gunfire at us was random,” he remembers. Tragically, the man standing beside him was killed, his remains carried away in the bag he had brought to collect flour.

 

The investigation draws attention to the culpability of the Israeli military, which has acknowledged firing “warning shots” but denies targeting civilians directly. Despite these claims, patterns of injury and recovered bullet casings tell a different story.

Footage shows the presence of Israeli tanks and audible gunshots even outside designated distribution sites, where crowds gather hoping to receive food. This dangerous environment has led to devastating casualties and prompted widespread international criticism.

 

Weapons experts examining the situation have branded the military actions as “reckless and irresponsible.” British expert Chris Cobb-Smith criticised the extent of small-arms fire used near unarmed civilians, asserting there is no tactical justification for such measures. His American counterpart, Trevor Ball, echoed these concerns, noting the extreme risk posed to civilians by firing so close to them.

 

Hospital data supports these assertions. Eight bullets removed from victims were consistent with Israeli military calibres, including the 7.62x51mm and .50 cal rounds, further implicating the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the violence.

 

Prof Nick Maynard, a consultant surgeon with experience in Gaza, reveals a worrying clustering of gunshot injuries, particularly among young males. He highlights the systematic targeting of specific body parts, with multiple patients arriving with similar wound patterns on the same days as food distributions.

The Israeli military’s narrative of self-defence and attempts to manage aid distribution harmoniously is in stark contrast to the grim reality faced by Palestinians. The ongoing violence, perceived by many as deliberate and systematic, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

 

As a response, international human rights organisations are calling for an immediate investigation into these events. They stress the importance of upholding international humanitarian laws that protect civilians, especially during conflict.

 

For Nuor and countless others, the terrifying circumstances have turned the simple act of collecting food into a life-and-death ordeal. With international pressure mounting, the world is now closely watching how this troubling situation will unfold.

 

Full original story with video

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 24 2025-08-10

 

[Jeff the Chef]

The last 3 paragraphs from the original  Guardian story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/aug/09/a-deadly-scheme-palestinians-face-indiscriminate-gunfire-at-food-sites#top

 

The IDF said it operated near the new distribution areas to “facilitate the aid efforts while continuing IDF operational activity in the Gaza Strip”, but did not confirm details of the review into incidents of civilian harm. It said that after an examination by its southern command, “instructions [were] issued to field forces following lessons learned”. It added that IDF forces had conducted “learning processes aimed at improving the operational response … and minimising possible friction between the population and the IDF” and this had been achieved through “the installation of fences, signage placement, the opening of additional routes, and other measures”.

 

A GHF spokesperson accused the Guardian of aiding a terrorist organisation and said: “The false and exaggerated statistics used in these reports seem to directly align with the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry … GHF has communicated to the UN and other humanitarian groups that we remain flexible and willing to sit down and address their concerns to find a path forward to collaborate and coordinate to securely deliver the maximum amount of aid possible.”

 

Earlier this week, the US ambassador to Israel called the GHF food distribution “phenomenal”, dismissing reports of IDF fire killing Palestinians as “nonsense”. He announced the possibility of opening 12 more food sites, and commencement of a 24 hour operation.

[Jeff the Chef]

Just now, Jeff the Chef said:

The last 3 paragraphs from the original  Guardian story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/aug/09/a-deadly-scheme-palestinians-face-indiscriminate-gunfire-at-food-sites#top

 

The IDF said it operated near the new distribution areas to “facilitate the aid efforts while continuing IDF operational activity in the Gaza Strip”, but did not confirm details of the review into incidents of civilian harm. It said that after an examination by its southern command, “instructions [were] issued to field forces following lessons learned”. It added that IDF forces had conducted “learning processes aimed at improving the operational response … and minimising possible friction between the population and the IDF” and this had been achieved through “the installation of fences, signage placement, the opening of additional routes, and other measures”.

 

A GHF spokesperson accused the Guardian of aiding a terrorist organisation and said: “The false and exaggerated statistics used in these reports seem to directly align with the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry … GHF has communicated to the UN and other humanitarian groups that we remain flexible and willing to sit down and address their concerns to find a path forward to collaborate and coordinate to securely deliver the maximum amount of aid possible.”

 

Earlier this week, the US ambassador to Israel called the GHF food distribution “phenomenal”, dismissing reports of IDF fire killing Palestinians as “nonsense”. He announced the possibility of opening 12 more food sites, and commencement of a 24 hour operation.

 

It's about time these so called spokesmen for the IDF, GHF and the US Ambassador led the Palestinians along these routes to the GHF food sites so they can report in real time, let's see how they feel after doing that.

[billd766]

IMHO the IDF is not firing indiscriminately at the Palestinians trying to get food for their families and themselves.

 

The firing is deliberate and meant to kill innocent Palestinian men, women, children and babies. What are the IDF hiding, when international news agencies are banned from ALL Israeli invaded territories?