At least 20 Palestinians were killed and over 200 injured in the early hours of Monday near food distribution centers in southern Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Red Cross field hospital in Khan Yunis reported receiving the highest number of casualties in a single day since the start of its operations, with more than 200 wounded, including 50 in critical condition.

The attacks occurred near US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, which have been described by local officials and humanitarian groups as “death traps”. Since GHF began operating in late May, over 300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,600 injured while attempting to access food aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned the violence, emphasizing that international humanitarian law requires the protection of civilians during military operations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also denounced the attacks and called for an independent investigation, warning that the use of food as a weapon may constitute a war crime.

The GHF distribution model, supported by Israel and the United States, has been criticized by UN agencies and major aid organizations for bypassing established humanitarian channels and failing to meet Gaza’s urgent needs. Witnesses report that Israeli troops opened fire on civilians approaching aid centers, often before scheduled opening hours.

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