Wed Jul 16 17:10:11 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Aid Center Tragedy in Gaza: Dozens Killed Amidst Chaos and Conflicting Accusations**

**Gaza City, Palestinian Territories – July 16, 2025:** At least 20 Palestinians were killed today at an aid center in southern Gaza in what witnesses described as a chaotic crush. The incident has sparked a furious exchange of accusations between the aid center operator, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and the territory’s civil defense agency.

The GHF, in its first public statement regarding deaths at its centers, blamed “agitators” within the crowd, claiming that armed individuals affiliated with Hamas deliberately incited the unrest. Conversely, the Gaza civil defense agency attributed the deadly panic to Israeli gunfire and tear gas, alleging that Israeli forces opened fire on the thousands gathered, triggering a stampede after aid center guards closed the gates. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the allegations.

Footage from the scene shows bodies being rushed to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, overwhelming the already strained medical facilities. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of people being trampled and suffocating.

The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of stalled ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Doha. Hamas accuses Israel of seeking long-term military control of Gaza, a key sticking point in the talks aiming for a 60-day ceasefire, hostage release, and increased aid flow. A Palestinian source close to the negotiations confirmed that no progress has been made.

The GHF, which began operations in late May after Israel blocked supplies into Gaza, has faced increasing reports of casualties near its aid distribution sites. The UN reported yesterday that 875 Palestinians have died since late May while trying to obtain food, with 674 of those deaths occurring near GHF sites.

Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any truce agreement. The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in staggering casualties. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The incident underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.

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