Amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, a new massacre occurred Tuesday when Israeli forces killed 27 Palestinian civilians and wounded approximately 200 others. The attack struck thousands of displaced people waiting for humanitarian aid near a distribution center west of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

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Eyewitnesses and local sources reported that Israeli artillery and warplanes fired on crowds gathered near the Al-Alam roundabout, where displaced families awaited desperately needed food and medical assistance. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that “27 dead and dozens wounded have been admitted to hospitals, including one in critical condition,” though these figures are provisional from yet another “massacre” against civilians.

This incident follows a similar attack on Sunday when at least 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 170 injured by gunfire less than a kilometer from the same aid site in Rafah.

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), which operates humanitarian points in Gaza, confirmed dozens of Palestinians have died at aid distribution centers backed by the United States and Israel. The organization warned this recent aggression reveals the “inhumanity and ineffectiveness of the new aid distribution system,” which it called “extremely dangerous.”

Medical supplies are rapidly running low. Blood banks near depletion have forced medical teams to donate their own blood to treat the wounded. Aid workers warn that the weaponization of humanitarian assistance “may amount to a crime against humanity.”

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the new aid mechanism, calling it a “deadly trap.” He urged Israel to lift the blockade and grant the United Nations safe and unrestricted access to deliver aid throughout Gaza.

Lazzarini stressed that the UN must be allowed to carry out independent aid operations to prevent widespread famine, especially among Gaza’s one million children. He also called on Israel to allow international media access to the territory to report on ongoing atrocities.

The aid distribution system has recently been limited to only three or four locations, forcing civilians to travel long distances under perilous conditions. Previously, aid was distributed across approximately 400 sites, reducing risks and increasing access. Since the war began, at least 310 UNRWA staff members have been killed.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations have reportedly killed 54,470 Palestinians—mostly women and children—and injured 124,693 others. The actual death toll is believed to be higher, as many remain trapped under rubble or in areas inaccessible to rescue teams due to ongoing attacks.

This new massacre underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilians face relentless violence, restricted aid access, and worsening living conditions amid a prolonged blockade. Humanitarian organizations and international officials warn that without urgent intervention, the situation will deteriorate further, with catastrophic consequences for the population.

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