By Ifp Media Wire
The Health Ministry announcedd on Saturday that at least 743 Palestinians were killed and more than 4,891 others were injured while seeking assistance at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution sites.
The GHF, which began operating in the bombarded Palestinian enclave in late May, has drawn widespread criticism amid multiple reports that its contractors as well as Israeli forces have opened fire on aid seekers.
Earlier this week, a report by The Associated Press news agency quoted American contractors who said live ammunition and stun grenades have been fired at Palestinian civilians seeking aid at GHF distribution points.
Two unnamed US contractors told AP that heavily armed staff members appeared to be doing whatever they wanted.
The administration of US President Donald Trump also has stood by the GHF, with a State Department spokesperson telling reporters on Wednesday that the group is the 鈥渙ne entity that has gotten food and aid into the Gaza Strip鈥.
In late June, the Trump administration pledged $30m in direct funding for the organisation.
Leading humanitarian and human rights groups have demanded the immediate closure of the GHF, which they accused of 鈥渇orcing two million people into overcrowded, militarized zones where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties鈥.
Amnesty International has described the group鈥檚 operations as an 鈥渋nhumane and deadly militarized scheme鈥.
鈥淎ll the evidence gathered, including testimonies which Amnesty International is receiving from victims and witnesses, suggest that the GHF was designed so as to placate international concerns while constituting another tool of Israel鈥檚 genocide,鈥 Amnesty announced.
Still, faced with dire shortages of food, water and other humanitarian supplies under Israel鈥檚 blockade, many Palestinians in Gaza say they have no choice but to seek assistance from the group, despite the risks.
A recent report from Israeli outlet Haaretz also detailed Israeli forces, in their words, confirming that Israeli troops have deliberately shot at unarmed Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza after being 鈥渙rdered鈥 to do so by their commanders.