At least 8 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Gaza gunfire near food distribution centres

At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens injured on Sunday in Gaza as gunfire erupted near food distribution centers, on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

Online media sources say the violence took place amid growing concern that global attention has shifted away from Gaza due to Israel’s escalating conflict with Iran.

Although Israeli officials have referred to Gaza as a secondary front compared to the Iran conflict, residents report ongoing severe assaults.

Witnesses describe consistent gunfire, even around humanitarian aid distribution sites backed by Israel and the U.S., raising fears that the crisis in Gaza is being overshadowed.

Ahmed al-Masri, speaking to the Associated Press after returning from a distribution point empty-handed, described the scene grimly: “There were wounded, dead, and martyrs… It’s a trap.”

Umm Hosni al-Najjar, who went to an aid location in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood around 4:30 a.m., said gunfire began shortly after crowds began gathering.

The distribution points are managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a newly formed aid network intended to deliver essential supplies.

The shootings occurred despite growing international concern.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, criticized the violence, stating: “Hunger must never be met with bullets.

“Humanitarians must be allowed to do their work.

“Life-saving aid must reach people in need, in line with humanitarian principles.”

Fletcher warned that without immediate, expanded access to food and medical supplies, Gaza could face “famine, further chaos and the loss of more lives.”

Since the GHF distribution centers opened last month, near-daily incidents of violence have been reported.

Witnesses say Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire on crowds gathering for aid, with medical authorities reporting dozens of deaths.

The Israeli military has admitted to firing warning shots at individuals it claims approached soldiers suspiciously.

In Sunday’s incident, Palestinian sources reported that Israeli troops fired at people heading to two different aid locations in Rafah just after dawn.

These shootings coincide with growing anxiety that Gaza is being neglected on the world stage.

Mahmoud Abu Haloub, a 32-year-old displaced multiple times during the conflict, told The Guardian that conditions have deteriorated since the beginning of Israel’s confrontation with Iran.

“There are fewer aid trucks now,” he said, “and it’s more dangerous to go and get food.

“The Israeli army is more aggressive, using shells and bombs indiscriminately.

“These massacres happen with little international reaction.”

Mohammed Zuhair from Beit Lahiya echoed similar fears:

“The world’s focus on Iran is disastrous for us.

“We are enduring famine, yet global attention has moved on.

“Gaza has been pushed aside while we face Israeli attacks, a suffocating blockade, and no access to basic necessities.”

Maryam Al-Shafie, a 65-year-old widow and caregiver to a large family, shared a painful story.

“Yesterday my grandson went to the aid trucks, but came back with nothing.

“It was his first time going, and after what happened, we won’t let him go again.

“Since the conflict with Iran escalated, life here has become even harder.

“We had hoped for some relief, but things have only gotten worse.

“No one seems to be paying attention to Gaza anymore.”

Aid organizations and humanitarian experts warn that Israel’s continued blockade and military actions have caused extreme hunger, increasing the risk of famine in the region.

The gunfire on Sunday occurred hundreds of meters from GHF-operated centers.

GHF, a group backed by Israel and the U.S. as a replacement for the UN’s aid distribution network, has claimed there was no violence in or around their designated areas.

They have advised civilians to stick to marked routes and recently suspended operations temporarily to discuss safety with the Israeli military.

However, the UN has rejected the GHF-led system, saying it breaches humanitarian standards.

The newly launched aid system has faced disorder and violence from the outset.

Meanwhile, the UN’s original distribution efforts have struggled due to Israeli restrictions and a collapse of civil infrastructure, despite a temporary loosening of the blockade between March and May.

Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began.

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