Gaza: At least 798 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza since the end of May, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on Friday.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, a spokesperson for the office informed that 615 of those killed perished near aid distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since May 27. An additional 183 fatalities were recorded along routes utilized by aid convoys.
The concerning death toll is reported at a time of increasing international unease regarding the current aid distribution system in Gaza. Earlier this month, 169 humanitarian organizations called for an end to the U.S.- and Israeli-led aid distribution framework managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. They cited almost daily reports of Palestinians being shot and killed by Israeli forces while awaiting help near the foundation's facilities.
These organizations have advocated for a return to the UN-led distribution mechanism, which operated in Gaza until March when Israel intensified its blockade on the region. Since late May, aid has been gradually permitted entry into Gaza but is being distributed through the foundation. Many international aid groups have refused to cooperate with this foundation due to its affiliations with Israeli authorities.
In a joint statement, the aid organizations condemned the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for assuming control of the distribution process, highlighting that its operations have resulted in perilous and lethal conditions for civilians. Signatories to the statement included organizations from Europe, the U.S., and Israel, engaged in medical and food assistance, development, and human rights work.