Dozens reported killed as Israel acknowledges troops opened fire near Gaza food point
TEL AVIV, Israel — At least 27 Palestinians were killed Tuesday and dozens more wounded as they tried to collect food in southern Gaza, according to local health officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The incident occurred near a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private group backed by the U.S. Witnesses say Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd.
The Israeli military acknowledged firing warning shots to disperse what it described as a threatening group approaching troops. In a statement the military said “the troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects who advanced toward the troops.” The military says it is investigating the incident and is aware of reports of civilian casualties.
GHF, however, insists there was no gunfire in or near its facilities.
Chaos continues to plague food aid delivery in Gaza, where the U.N. says distribution has become a “death trap” and warns the territory is on the brink of famine.
Over the weekend, a similar tragedy unfolded when at least 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 injured by Israeli fire as they headed toward other distribution sites, according to Gaza health authorities. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots toward individuals about a thousand yards from the site.
NPR producer Ahmed Abuhamda spoke with a man named Barakat, who withheld his full name, fearing repercussions from Israel. Barakat said he left home at 3:30 a.m. to secure a spot in line before supplies ran out.
Israeli navy boats started firing, he claimed. He said he crawled to avoid getting shot, and saw a woman raise her head when she was fatally shot.
“It’s inhumane, unsafe, and unfair,” Barakat added. He returned home empty-handed.
Speaking anonymously in line with military protocol, an Israeli military official told media outlets, including NPR, that troops did fire warning shots at “suspects” about a thousand yards from the food site. The official said it was to prevent them from approaching troops.
Despite the U.S.-supported effort to deliver aid, getting food in Gaza remains a deadly ordeal.
Some Middle East flights resume, but thousands of travelers are still stranded by war
Limited flights out of the Middle East resumed on Monday. But hundreds of thousands of travelers are still stranded in the region after attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel.
‘Hamnet’ star Jessie Buckley looks for the ‘shadowy bits’ of her characters
Buckley has been nominated for a best actress Oscar for her portrayal of William Shakespeare's wife in Hamnet. The film "brought me into this next chapter of my life as a mother," Buckley says.
How, who, and why: NPR flips its famous letters to defend the right to be curious
NPR is standing up for the public's right to ask hard questions in a national campaign dubbed "For your right to be curious." At NPR's headquarters, on billboards in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and across social media, NPR's three iconic letters transform into "how," "who," and "why" — a bold declaration of its commitment to fight for Americans' right to ask questions both big and small.
Hegseth: ‘We didn’t start this war but under President Trump we’re finishing it’
The remarks are the first to reporters since the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran began Saturday despite weeks of talks designed to stave off a conflict.
Ivermectin is making a post-pandemic comeback, among cancer patients
The anti-parasitic drug became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now being embraced as an alternative treatment for cancer. It is as politically polarizing as ever.
Rep. Adam Smith on the U.S. strikes on Iran and the debate over Trump’s war powers
NPR's Leila Fadel asks Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, about President Trump's unilateral authorization to strike Iran.
