Israeli Military Denies Orders to Fire on Gaza Aid Seekers as UN Labels US-Backed Operation ‘Deadly’

Tensions at the food distribution sites surge while Israeli Military Denies Orders to Fire on Gaza Aid Seekers as UN Labels US-Backed Operation ‘Deadly.’ Tensions continue to escalate in the Gaza Strip as reports of Israeli forces allegedly targeting Palestinians at food distribution sites have sparked global outrage.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have strongly rejected claims published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that soldiers were ordered to fire at unarmed civilians seeking humanitarian aid. Over 500 Palestinians have been reported killed near such sites since late May, amid accusations that the aid distribution model itself is unsafe.

Israeli Military Denies Orders to Fire on Gaza Aid Seekers as UN Labels US-Backed Operation ‘Deadly’

IDF Denies Allegations Amid Deadly Incidents

The Haaretz report cited anonymous Israeli soldiers who claimed they were instructed to shoot at crowds of Palestinians approaching aid locations even when no threat was evident.

One soldier described the aid approach zones as a “killing field,” and said Israeli troops recently began using artillery shells to disperse crowds allegedly causing a spike in casualties.

The IDF responded with a strong denial, stating:

“We strongly reject the accusation raised in the article the IDF did not instruct the forces to deliberately shoot at civilians, including those approaching the distribution centers. IDF directives prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the IDF’s statement, calling the Haaretz article “vicious lies” and labeling the military “the most moral army in the world.”

Over 500 Palestinians Killed Near Aid Sites

Despite these denials, reports from local officials and emergency responders paint a grim picture. Since May 27, more than 500 Palestinians have died while attempting to access food, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

In one case, multiple eyewitnesses told CNN that Israeli troops fired repeated volleys of gunfire into crowds. Weapons experts said the gunfire and bullet casings matched those from Israeli military-grade machine guns.

The IDF has acknowledged firing “warning shots” near aid distribution areas but insists it is investigating any resulting casualties. However, no public findings have yet been released.

UN Chief Condemns Aid Operation: ‘It Is Killing People’

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to the chorus of concern on Friday, delivering a blunt condemnation of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF):

“Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people,” Guterres said.

He emphasized that humanitarian workers are starving, aid is being blocked, and the U.S.- and Israel-supported aid effort must be re-evaluated.

“The search for food must never be a death sentence,” he added. “It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Since Israel lifted its 11-week aid blockade on May 19, over 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while seeking food, mostly while approaching GHF aid sites.

Controversial Role of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation created to replace the UN-led food distribution system has drawn harsh criticism from aid groups.

The organization, backed by Israel and the U.S., hands out food at limited points in central and southern Gaza and coordinates routes with the Israeli military.

Although GHF insists that distributions have “proceeded without incident,” it has acknowledged some violent episodes outside its immediate zones. Responding to the Haaretz report, the foundation stated:

“These allegations are too grave to ignore. We call on Israel to investigate and publish results transparently.” Despite mounting scrutiny, the U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it was awarding $30 million in fresh funding to the group. The GHF claims to have distributed over 48 million meals since beginning operations on May 26.

Israeli Airstrike Kills 18 at Aid Site, Including Civilians

Adding to the tensions, an Israeli airstrike on Thursday in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed 18 people who were gathering flour from a Hamas-linked police unit, the Sahm unit, which had seized food from looters.

The Sahm unit, affiliated with Gaza’s Hamas-run interior ministry, was distributing flour and other aid when the crowd was hit.

Video of the aftermath showed several torn bodies, including a child and at least seven Sahm personnel, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

While the Israeli military did not immediately comment, it has in the past justified strikes on Gaza’s police, claiming they operate as Hamas enforcers. Israel maintains that Hamas steals UN-distributed aid to control local populations.

Netanyahu Denounces ‘Blood Libels,’ Orders Investigation

Facing increasing global criticism, Netanyahu doubled down Friday, stating: “Israel absolutely rejects the contemptible blood libels and malicious falsehoods in the Haaretz article.”

He emphasized that Israeli soldiers are under strict orders to avoid harming civilians.

Meanwhile, the Military Advocate General, Israel’s top military legal authority, has directed the IDF’s General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism to examine reports of war crimes.

The IDF reiterated: “Any allegation of deviation from IDF directives will be thoroughly investigated, and action will be taken if necessary.”

UN and Israel Trade Blame Over Humanitarian Crisis

As Gaza continues to reel from over 20 months of war, rights organizations say over two million people now face starvation.

The UN has accused both Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation of exacerbating the crisis. The international body has refused to work with the GHF, citing concerns over militarized zones and displacement of civilians.

Israel, in turn, accused the UN of aligning itself with Hamas: “In doing so, the UN is sabotaging humanitarian operations,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X.

A GHF spokesperson added: “Our aid is getting securely delivered. We invite the UN to stop throwing insults and help feed the people of Gaza.”

Conclusion: Calls for Transparency and Ceasefire

With the humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly and both sides locked in a blame game, international observers are urging transparency, independent investigations, and an immediate ceasefire. The credibility of both the Israeli military and the new aid apparatus hangs in the balance as the world watches a desperate population continue to suffer.

Guterres’s final words echoed the urgency: “People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families.” The question now is whether these warnings will lead to meaningful action—or be buried beneath further conflict and controversy.

Also Read: Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire ‘Very Close’ as Hostage Crisis and Aid Deaths Mount

Also Read: Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to shoot unarmed Gaza aid seekers: Report