613 killed near Gaza aid outlets as hospital is overwhelmed by injured patients- UN
More than 600 Palestinians have died near Gaza aid sites since late May, says the UN. Meanwhile, doctors say Gaza’s main hospital is now "one massive trauma ward" as the shootings continue. Follow DW for the latest.
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) says it has recorded more than 600 killings in Gaza near humanitarian convoys and at distribution points run by the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since it began operating in late May.
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the office could not assign responsibility for the deaths but added, "it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points" operated by GHF.
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"We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys — this is a figure as of June 27. Since then, there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani,
The OHCHR says 509 of the deaths were "GHF-related," meaning they happened at or near its sites.
"Information keeps coming in," Shamdasani said. "This is ongoing, and it is unacceptable."
The tally was verified using strict methodology and relied partly on reports from hospitals that receive the dead, Shamdasani said.
The US- and Israel-backed GHF began handing out food packages at the end of May, using a delivery model the UN says is neither impartial nor neutral.
GHF has repeatedly denied that any killings or injuries have happened on its sites, while stressing that casualties in the vicinity of the sites are under Israeli military purview.
Hospital overwhelmed by injuries from non-UN aid sites
Nasser Hospital in Gaza has been operating as "one massive trauma ward" as more patients wounded near non-UN food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) flood in, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Friday.
Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva that medical teams at Nasser have seen daily injuries for weeks.
"They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... [the] majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward," he said.
Hundreds of patients, mostly young boys, have been treated for traumatic injuries such as bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees at Nasser hospital, the WHO said.
Peeperkorn said health workers and witnesses confirmed the victims had been trying to reach aid at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites.
He described the case of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head and a 21-year-old left paraplegic by a bullet lodged in his neck.
"There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging an end to the fighting and more food aid for Gaza.
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