20 Palestinians Killed in Stampede at Israeli-Backed Gaza Aid Site

At least 20 Palestinians were killed near a Gaza aid distribution site operated by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) in Khan Younis, with 19 trampled in a stampede and one fatally stabbed amid chaos. Palestinian health authorities attribute many deaths to suffocation caused by teargas or pepper spray allegedly used by GHF security guards to control crowds, marking a grim milestone in a war that has already claimed over 58,000 Palestinian lives. GHF blamed Hamas for inciting panic and spreading misinformation that led to the violence, though it provided no evidence to support this claim. The incident occurred amid ongoing Israeli military strikes in Gaza, which killed dozens more, including children, as part of the 21-month conflict that has driven the humanitarian crisis to catastrophic levels. The UN and Gaza’s Health Ministry report hundreds of Palestinians have died trying to access aid since GHF began operations, raising concerns about the safety and impartiality of GHF’s distribution model, especially as the sites are guarded by armed private security in areas with Israeli military presence. Palestinians and witnesses also report Israeli forces firing near crowds attempting to reach aid, underscoring the immense challenges faced by civilians amid the siege and conflict.