The GHF, supported by the U.S. and Israel, stated that 19 people were trampled and one was stabbed amid what it called a "chaotic and hazardous stampede." The group attributed the attack to agitators in the crowd who claimed to be affiliated with Hamas.
Conflicting Reports and Rising Casualties
While the GHF reported 20 fatalities, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it received the bodies of 10 people who were said to have died of "suffocation" following the closure of the site by private security contractors. The total toll of the casualties is not confirmed.
Since the GHF started its operations in Gaza late in May, casualties during the distribution of aid have become nearly daily. The eyewitnesses indicate that most of the victims were killed by gunfire from Israeli troops. The UN human rights agency on Tuesday reported 674 individuals killed within six weeks near GHF locations, and a further 201 persons were killed along routes of aid convoys.
So far, GHF had dismissed reports of any fatal incidents around its aid centres and had blamed the UN for basing its claims on inaccurate information from Gaza's health ministries.
Tensions Over Aid Distribution Practices
The GHF works within Israeli military areas and uses private security contractors to distribute aid, something that has been criticised. The United Nations has declined to work with the GHF, labelling its operations as unethical and citing issues of transparency and safety.
The Israeli army last week confirmed that civilians have been injured during the delivery of aid. It said efforts are underway to diminish "friction" between populations and Israeli forces.
The increasing number of deaths and contradictory reports regarding the delivery
