At least 27 individuals lost their lives and 90 were injured in a tragic incident on Tuesday morning in Rafah, southern Gaza. The victims were attempting to collect food from a distribution center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (FHG), an organization supported by Israel and the United States. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported firing warning shots after identifying several individuals they considered suspicious approaching their position.

The IDF acknowledged that when these individuals did not retreat, they fired closer to deter them. An inquiry has been launched to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders confirmed receiving numerous casualties at their facilities, contradicting FHG's initial claims of no incidents.

FHG, operating independently of the UN, stated they cannot be held accountable for events occurring outside their facilities, emphasizing the area's status as an active warzone. They advised civilians to use designated safe corridors when approaching distribution centers.

The tragic events on Tuesday highlight a severe humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of 102 Gazans seeking food since the FHG began its aid distribution eight days ago. Nearly 500 individuals have been injured in these incidents, according to data from Hamas-controlled media in the region.

Hamas denounced the violence, labeling it as "massacres against starving civilians" and accusing Israel of genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention. They have urged the UN and international organizations to take over humanitarian aid management, citing the dire conditions faced by Palestinians.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the repeated violence in Gaza, calling it unacceptable. He highlighted the severe choices facing Palestinians: starvation or risking death collecting food. Türk warned that obstructing access to essential supplies might constitute a war crime.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an independent investigation into the attacks on civilians, stressing that risking lives for food is unacceptable. He reminded Israel of its responsibility to ensure humanitarian access.

The situation in Gaza is described as "catastrophic" by the UN, with 2.1 million residents at severe risk of starvation, making it one of the world's most hunger-stricken regions. Humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have criticized the aid distribution system backed by Israel and the US as unsafe and violating international humanitarian principles. Philippe Lazzarini of the UNRWA criticized the system as humiliating and a "death trap" for Gazans, failing to meet its primary goal of saving lives.