The United Nations revealed on Friday that at least 613 people have been killed around aid distribution points and convoys in Gaza since late May, with 509 fatalities occurring near sites run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The GHF began its operations on May 26 after Israel imposed a two-month blockade on vital supplies to the Gaza Strip, which triggered warnings of widespread famine.
However, aid efforts have been overshadowed by chaotic scenes and frequent reports of Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinians waiting to receive aid.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, told a briefing that the death toll near GHF distribution sites and humanitarian convoys had reached 613 by midday on June 27.
She noted that the figure is likely to change as new reports emerge and the UN works to verify them.
“The full extent of the situation remains unclear due to limited access to Gaza,” Shamdasani said. “We know Israeli military forces have shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to access these aid points. We require an independent investigation to determine responsibility and ensure accountability.”
The UN and major humanitarian groups have declined to collaborate with GHF, expressing concerns that the foundation’s activities might serve Israeli military interests and breach fundamental humanitarian principles.
GHF, headquartered in Delaware, USA, announced on Thursday that it had distributed over one million food boxes in Gaza. Its chairman, Johnnie Moore, a Christian evangelical closely linked to US President Donald Trump, claimed no violent incidents had occurred at their distribution sites.
