Stampede at Gaza Aid Site Kills 20 Palestinians

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a chaotic stampede at a US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, with most victims trampled and one fatally stabbed. GHF attributed the tragedy to armed agitators allegedly affiliated with Hamas, though it provided no evidence, while Hamas and witnesses alleged that GHF workers and Israeli soldiers used tear gas, stun grenades, and pepper spray, inciting panic. This is the first time GHF has confirmed deaths during its operations. The incident highlights broader concerns, with the UN reporting over 875 Palestinians killed near aid sites since May, mainly at GHF-run locations, and ongoing criticism of GHF’s operational model by NGOs and the UN for lacking safety and impartiality. Witnesses cited poor crowd control and confusion about aid availability as factors in the disaster. The same day, Israeli strikes killed at least 41 others across Gaza, underscoring the deepening humanitarian crisis.