Palestinians in Gaza have condemned food distribution centers supported by the U.S. and Israel as "death traps," with medics and eyewitnesses recounting numerous casualties among those desperately seeking aid.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, one of the few facilities still operating in southern Gaza, doctors are overwhelmed with patients suffering gunshot wounds sustained near the aid points.
Most of the injured are women and children, many with bullets in the chest, head or knees, according to medical staff. They said those attempting to collect food boxes are routinely exposed to life-threatening danger.
Displaced Palestinians who survived the incidents described scenes of chaos, panic and deadly force.
"I was on my way from our home to the aid distribution area. On the way, I was shot in the leg, and after that, I lost consciousness. My friends gave me first aid and took me to the hospital," said Moath Abu Sleem.
"When we reached the aid point, we became like piles of flesh on top of each other. It takes immense suffering to get the aid. As we left, the Americans and the Israelis opened fire on us and threw grenades. The artillery shells also started raining down, and people were killed," said Mohammed al-Qadi, another displaced resident.
Rami al-Ballas, whose son was wounded at one of the sites, said what is labeled "American aid" is, in reality, a massacre of the Palestinian people.
"As you can see, all the wounded around us came from that site. It's a trap for the Palestinian people. They want to eliminate the rest of our children. I forbade my son from going, but he went anyway, and now, as you can see, he's lying here, injured," he said.
"The Americans opened fire, and so did the Israelis. They crowd people together, and then shoot at the first sign of movement. Most of the gunfire is direct. These so-called aid zones are in fact clear and deliberate execution zones for people just trying to find a bite of food for their children," said Abu Ahmed.
Mohammed Masaoud, weary after his arduous 50-kilometer journey from northern Gaza in search of food, recounted harrowing moments of violence and indignity that he endured along the way.
"I came here from the north. I traveled a distance of 50 kilometers. You can't just enter directly, you have to wait, while tanks open fire and there's a chance you could be hit. Then, when we arrive, the Americans let us in like dogs and throw the aid to us. Some manage to grab it, others don't, and people push and shove. They sprayed me with pepper spray, an American sprayed it directly in my face, and I couldn't see for half an hour," he said.
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 57,418, with 136,261 people injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7, 2023, said Gaza's health authorities on Sunday.
In the past 24 hours alone, Israeli attacks have killed at least 80 Palestinians and injured 304 others, according to the health authorities.
Witnesses label U.S.-Israeli aid centers as "death traps" amid deadly clashes over food distribution
Witnesses label U.S.-Israeli aid centers as "death traps" amid deadly clashes over food distribution
Witnesses label U.S.-Israeli aid centers as "death traps" amid deadly clashes over food distribution
