Sat Jun 28 07:36:47 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Controversy Surrounds Aid Distribution in Gaza Amidst Accusations of Israeli Military Violence**
**Jerusalem – June 28, 2025** – A report published by Israeli newspaper *Haaretz* alleging that Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot at Palestinians approaching aid distribution sites in Gaza has sparked a fierce debate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them “malicious falsehoods designed to defame” the military.
The report comes amidst a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians are desperate for food after a 2 1/2 month siege. Since the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing aid about a month ago, the Gaza Health Ministry claims over 500 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded while seeking food. Witnesses report that Israeli troops have opened fire on crowds on the roads leading to the aid sites.
The Israeli military has confirmed it is investigating incidents where civilians have been harmed but denies any deliberate targeting of civilians. The GHF, backed by an American private contractor, distributes food boxes at four locations in southern Gaza. In a social media post, the organization stated it was unaware of such incidents but called on Israel to investigate the allegations and transparently publish the results.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture. Mohammad Fawzi, a displaced man from Rafah, told *The Associated Press* he was shot at while attempting to obtain aid. The medical aid group ‘Doctors Without Borders’ has condemned the current aid distribution system as “a slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid” and called for its immediate shutdown.
Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmyiha, director of Shifa Hospital, reported receiving the bodies of eight people who died near a GHF site in Netzarim on Friday. According to the Health Ministry, more than 6,000 people have been killed and 20,000 injured in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged leaders to show “political courage” and agree to a ceasefire. He also advocated for a return to the UN’s aid distribution system, condemning the current situation as “a humanitarian crisis of horrific proportions.” Guterres stressed that, “The search for food must never be a death sentence.”
**Summary of Text:**
The article reports on the controversy surrounding aid distribution in Gaza, specifically allegations that Israeli soldiers have been shooting at Palestinians seeking aid. It highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the denials from the Israeli government, the investigation by the Israeli military, eyewitness accounts of violence, and condemnation from humanitarian organizations. The UN Secretary-General calls for a ceasefire and a return to the UN’s aid distribution system. The backdrop is the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, 2023. The source of the article is *The Hindu*, published from an Indian perspective.
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