Gaza Aid Site Killings Amid Conflict

At least 24 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, marking the latest in a series of deadly incidents during aid operations. The Israeli military stated its forces opened fire on individuals deviating from designated access routes near the distribution center in Rafah and is investigating the incident. This event follows previous reports of 31 Palestinians killed on Sunday and three on Monday under similar circumstances. The deaths occurred hours after Israel reported three of its soldiers were killed in northern Gaza Strip, as its forces continue an offensive against Hamas. The United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which bypasses traditional aid groups, launched its first distribution sites last week to alleviate hunger but has faced fierce criticism from the United Nations and other charities for not adhering to humanitarian principles. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an independent investigation into the deaths. The conflict began after Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, leading to an Israeli military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians.