From aid line to death line: How Gaza's hungry are being gunned down

In a report, the Haaretz newspaper interviewed several Israeli officers and soldiers, who confirmed that since last month, they have received orders to open fire on Palestinians gathering around food distribution points.

According to the soldiers, they fired at individuals who were completely unarmed and posed no threat whatsoever.

Haaretz admitted in the introduction to the report that the actions described by these soldiers constitute war crimes.

The report states that Israeli forces operating in Gaza have deliberately fired at Palestinians gathering near food aid centers over the past month.

The interviews show that superior officers explicitly ordered their troops to fire on these crowds and disperse them, despite the fact that those present were not posing any threat.

Citing the Gaza Ministry of Health, the report notes that since May 27, 549 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution centers, and over 4,000 more have been wounded, though the exact number of casualties from Israeli army fire remains unclear.

In another part of the report, Haaretz acknowledges that checkpoints around distribution centers typically open for only one hour in the mornings, and soldiers stationed there say the Israeli army fires on civilians both before the gates open and after they close, to prevent Palestinians from approaching.

One soldier described the situation: “These areas have truly turned into killing zones. In the area where I was stationed, 2 to 5 Palestinians were killed daily. They are fired at as if they are enemy combatants. The Israeli army does not use riot control tools like tear gas; instead, it uses live ammunition, heavy machine guns, even grenades and mortars. Only when the gate opens do they stop shooting — that's the moment Palestinians realize they’re allowed to approach. In reality, our only communication with them is through bullets and death.”

Another soldier stated: “If Palestinians get closer than 100 meters in the early morning, they are shot at. Sometimes they’re fired upon from very close range, even though they pose no threat to our forces.”

He added: “I never saw or heard any gunfire coming from the other side. There was no enemy, no weapons — just unarmed civilians.”

Israeli officers also told Haaretz that the army releases no information to the Israeli public or international community about what is happening around the aid distribution areas.

According to these officers, the Israeli army relies on the operations of the World Food Programme in Gaza to maintain some level of international legitimacy for continuing the war in the region.

They also claimed that Gaza, especially after Israel's defeat in the war with Iran, has become Israel’s private backyard.

A reservist who had just completed a deployment in Gaza last week told Haaretz: “No one cares about Gaza anymore. It has become a place with its own rules. Death here doesn't count — it’s not even seen as a tragic incident.”