U.S.-Israel backed aid points in Gaza seem to have become "killing sites" as the UN human rights office said on Friday that it recorded about 509 deaths over a month, from May 27 to June 27, at the aid distribution points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Meanwhile, more than 100 others were killed in attacks near humanitarian convoys of the GHF, a private organization backed by the U.S. and Israel, according to Ravina Shamdasani, the spokeswoman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The OHCHR stated that it could not yet confirm the perpetrators of these incidents but emphasized that Israeli forces had opened fire on Palestinians attempting to approach the GHF’s aid distribution points.
"So the latest figures that we have -- we have recorded 613 killings both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys. Now this is a figure as of the 27th of June. On who is responsible, it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points. How many killings? Who is responsible for? For that we need an investigation," said Ravina Shamdasani.
More attacks occurred after June 27, she said.
According to the spokeswoman, the data was based on internal OHCHR reports, with sources including the Palestinian minister of health, hospitals, and victims' families, and had undergone standard verification procedures.
The office is still verifying more clues, said Ravina Shamdasani, adding that it will "perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access."
Since March this year, Israel has reimposed a blockade on Gaza and resumed large-scale military operations. Under international pressure, Israel began allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza in late May.
The GHF has been mired in criticism for months since it bypassed the UN to take over the distribution of food in Gaza on May 27.
According to a June 27 report of Israel's Haaretz newspaper citing multiple Israeli soldiers, their commanders had ordered them to open fire to disperse civilians near aid distribution points -- even when they posed no security threat.
On Tuesday, over 165 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) issued a joint statement, calling for immediate actions to end the GHF.
The statement said that the Israeli-U.S. scheme, under the guise of providing aid, is causing chaos and violence, resulting in the deaths of over 500 innocent Palestinians in just weeks.
US-Israel backed aid points in Gaza become 'killing sites': UN official
US-Israel backed aid points in Gaza become 'killing sites': UN official
