UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an independent investigation into a deadly incident near a Gaza aid centre.
At least 31 Palestinians were reportedly killed and 176 wounded by Israeli gunfire near Rafah on Sunday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Hospitals nearby were overwhelmed with victims suffering gunshot wounds, medics confirmed.
The Israeli military denied firing at civilians near the aid site but admitted to shooting “warning shots” at individuals one kilometre away.
Guterres said he was “appalled” by the reports and declared it “unacceptable” that civilians must risk their lives for food. He stopped short of blaming any party, instead urging accountability and a full inquiry.
Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed his remarks as “a disgrace” for failing to condemn Hamas.
The controversial aid centre, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), operates outside the UN-led system and is supported by Israel. The UN has refused to collaborate with GHF, citing neutrality concerns.
Witnesses at the scene described chaos. One man, present during the early morning shooting, said, “Bullets were chasing people even as they tried to flee.”
Another survivor, Mohammed Abu Deqqa, recalled, “At first, we thought they were warning shots… then people were covered in blood.”
Photos taken shortly after sunrise showed civilians loading bodies onto donkey carts. Rescuers arrived by 6:00 am, but many of the injured had already been rushed to hospitals.
The Israeli army maintains that no civilians were targeted directly at the site. A spokesperson claimed Hamas is actively obstructing aid efforts and promised investigations into all allegations.
British surgeon Victoria Rose, reporting from Nasser hospital, described scenes of “absolute carnage,” with all bays filled by gunshot victims.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital treated 179 casualties, most with gunshot or shrapnel injuries.