Most of the Casualties Are Young Men
Another shooting occurred near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) relief distribution center, operated by the United States and Israel, resulting in at least 39 deaths and over 100 injuries.
According to Yonhap News, citing the British daily The Guardian on the 19th (local time), most of the casualties from the shooting that took place early that morning were young men, but children and teenagers were also reported among the victims.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Israeli forces fired indiscriminately at Gaza residents who were heading to the distribution center in search of food.
Dr. Atef Al Hout of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said, "An unprecedented number of casualties occurred in a very short period of time," and appealed that, due to a lack of medicine and medical staff, they are unable to provide adequate treatment.
Dr. Mohammed Saker, also from the same hospital, told the Associated Press that most of the deceased had been shot in the head and chest, and that some of the injured were in the intensive care unit.
A Gaza resident who was at the scene told the Associated Press that Israeli forces fired warning shots at the crowd heading to the distribution center and then opened fire, describing the situation as a "massacre."
The Gaza Government Media Office, operated by Hamas, on the 19th called for the establishment of a safe and permanent humanitarian aid corridor into Gaza under effective international organization monitoring and building safety.
In contrast, the GHF issued a statement rebutting these claims, saying the shooting took place far from the distribution center and before it had opened. The Israeli military stated that warning shots were fired only because the crowd ignored warnings not to approach the military.
Previously, Israel had imposed a blockade on Gaza, claiming that Hamas was seizing relief supplies, and since May has implemented limited distribution through the GHF, which was established jointly with the United States.
Since the ceasefire ended on March 18, the Israeli military has killed at least 7,938 Palestinians and seriously injured 28,444 others. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health on the 19th, the total death toll since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023 has reached 58,765, with 140,485 injured.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
