{"id":1492,"date":"2025-06-27T15:39:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/israeli-strike-kills-18-in-central-gaza-amid-turmoil-over-food-distribution\/"},"modified":"2025-06-27T15:39:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:39:42","slug":"israeli-strike-kills-18-in-central-gaza-amid-turmoil-over-food-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/israeli-strike-kills-18-in-central-gaza-amid-turmoil-over-food-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli strike kills 18 in central Gaza amid turmoil over food distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">An Israeli air strike has killed 18 people in central Gaza reportedly collecting aid, witnesses have told the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The street hit on Thursday, local time, had a crowd getting bags of flour from a Palestinian police unit that had confiscated the goods from gangs looting aid convoys, witnesses said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Hospital officials confirmed 18 people had died.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t RelatedCard_relatedCard__4Im5s interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU interactive_hoverContext__LDUDX interactive_defaults__AKxUU\" data-component=\"RelatedCard\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/105471484\" readability=\"5.125\">\n<h3 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_heading__S_nm2 Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_serif__qU2V5 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Gaza Humanitarian Foundation closes all aid sites<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which last week started handing out meals to hungry Palestinians inside the war-shattered Gaza Strip, said the sites would be reopened, but did not provide a date.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The strike was the latest violence surrounding the distribution of food to Gaza&rsquo;s population, which has been thrown into turmoil over the past month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">After blocking all food for more than two months, Israel has allowed only a trickle of supplies into the territory since mid-May.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Efforts by the United Nations to distribute the food have been plagued by armed gangs looting trucks and by crowds of desperate people offloading supplies from convoys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah on Thursday appeared to target members of Sahm, a security unit tasked with stopping looters and cracking down on merchants who sell stolen aid at high prices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The unit is part of Gaza&rsquo;s Hamas-led Interior Ministry, but includes members of other factions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">A horrific scene<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Witnesses said the Sahm unit was distributing bags of flour and other goods confiscated from looters and corrupt merchants, drawing a crowd when the strike hit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Video of the aftermath showed bodies of multiple young men in the street with blood splattering on the pavement and walls of buildings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The dead included a child and at least seven Sahm members, according to the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital where casualties were taken.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israel has accused the militant Hamas group of stealing aid and using it to prop up its rule in the enclave. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck Gaza&rsquo;s police, considering them a branch of Hamas.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"105471482\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/105471482\" readability=\"26.5\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Women wearing black burkhas lined up. In the background some men walk with white bags loaded on their backs\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" sizes=\"100vw\" src=\"https:\/\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/dc82f645aa7621e11abf3b1e5517603e?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&amp;cropH=3333&amp;cropW=5000&amp;xPos=0&amp;yPos=0&amp;width=862&amp;height=575\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" readability=\"3\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Palestinians line up to receive bags of flour distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<!-- --> <cite>(<span>AP: Jehad Alshrafi<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">An association of Gaza&rsquo;s influential clans and tribes said on Wednesday they had started an independent effort to guard aid convoys to prevent looting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The National Gathering of Palestinian Clans and Tribes said it helped escort a rare shipment of flour that entered northern Gaza that evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">It was unclear, however, if the association had coordinated with the UN or Israeli authorities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The World Food Program did not immediately respond to requests for comment by The Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&ldquo;We will no longer allow thieves to steal from the convoys for the merchants and force us to buy them for high prices,&rdquo; Abu Ahmad al-Gharbawi, a figure involved in the tribal effort, told the AP.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">Accusations from Israel<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in a joint statement on Wednesday accused Hamas of stealing aid entering northern Gaza, and called on the Israeli military to plan to prevent it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The National Gathering slammed the statement, saying the accusation of theft was aimed at justifying the Israeli military&rsquo;s &ldquo;aggressive practices.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">It said aid was &ldquo;fully secured&rdquo; by the tribes, which it said were committed to delivering the supplies to the population.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t RelatedCard_relatedCard__4Im5s interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU interactive_hoverContext__LDUDX interactive_defaults__AKxUU\" data-component=\"RelatedCard\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/105471486\" readability=\"3.1535836177474\">\n<h3 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_heading__S_nm2 Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_serif__qU2V5 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">As world watched Israel-Iran war, in Gaza hundreds were killed<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Palestinian health authorities say more than 800 Gazans were killed in IDF attacks during Israel&rsquo;s 12-day war with Iran, as a starvation crisis grips the besieged territory.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The move by tribes to protect aid convoys brings yet another player in an aid situation that has become fragmented, confused and violent, even as Gaza&rsquo;s more than 2 million Palestinians struggle to feed their families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Throughout the more than 20-month-old war, the UN led the massive aid operation by humanitarian groups providing food, shelter, medicine and other goods to Palestinians despite the fighting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">UN and other aid groups say that when significant amounts of supplies are allowed into Gaza, looting and theft dwindles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israel, however, seeks to replace the UN-led system, saying Hamas has been siphoning off large amounts of supplies from it, a claim the UN and other aid groups deny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Israel has backed an American private contractor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has started distributing food boxes at four locations, mainly in the far south of Gaza for the past month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Thousands of Palestinians walk for hours to reach the hubs, moving through Israeli military zones where witnesses say Israeli troops regularly open fire with heavy barrages to control the crowds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Health officials say hundreds of people have been killed and wounded. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">IDF orders war crime probe into aid site shootings<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In a separate development, the Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel&rsquo;s Military Advocate General ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over allegations that Israeli forces deliberately fired at Palestinian civilians near Gaza aid distribution sites.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Haaretz quoted unnamed Israeli soldiers as saying they were told to fire at the crowds to keep them back and using unnecessary lethal force against people who appeared to pose no threat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for a comment from Reuters about the report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Haaretz quoted a military spokesperson as saying that the army was trying to minimise potential friction between the population and Israeli forces, adding that following reports of civilian harm, the army had conducted investigations and given new instructions to ground forces.<\/p>\n<p><span data-component=\"Loading\" data-print=\"inline-media\" class=\"Loading_loading__21MZU VideoMiddleware_loading__aGBo3\"><span class=\"Loading_spinner__zmkAw Loading_spinnerSize32__Z_XId Loading_spinnerColourBrand__CqEIF\"><\/span><span class=\"Loading_label__cTH1q\" role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\">Loading&hellip;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Haaretz also quoted unnamed sources as saying that the army unit established to review incidents that may involve breaches of international law had been tasked with examining soldiers&rsquo; actions near distribution locations over the past month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In all, more than 500 people have died near aid centres operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) or in areas where UN food trucks were set to pass since late May, the Gaza health authorities have said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In response to questions about previous incidents, the Israel military often said troops had fired warning shots over the heads of people to get them to move.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">It has also said it is reviewing various cases. It has yet to publish its findings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The unnamed Israeli soldiers told Haaretz that military commanders had ordered troops to shoot at the crowds of Palestinians to disperse them and clear the area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">During a closed-door meeting with senior Military Advocate General officials this week, legal representatives rejected Israel Defense Forces claims that the incidents were isolated cases, Haaretz reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><strong>AP\/Reuters<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><sub>Israeli strike kills 18 in central Gaza amid turmoil over food distribution<\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Israeli air strike has killed 18 people in central Gaza reportedly collecting aid, witnesses have told the Associated Press. The street hit on Thursday, local time, had a crowd getting bags of flour from a Palestinian police unit that had confiscated the goods from gangs looting aid convoys, witnesses said. Hospital officials confirmed 18&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/israeli-strike-kills-18-in-central-gaza-amid-turmoil-over-food-distribution\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Israeli strike kills 18 in central Gaza amid turmoil over food distribution&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}