Gaza | 20 Killed in Aid Distribution Riot

At least 20 people were killed during a violent riot at an aid distribution point in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis on Wednesday morning, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has reported.

In a statement released later that day, the private foundation said 19 of the victims were trampled to death amid the chaos, while one individual was fatally stabbed. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly events linked to aid distribution in the war-torn enclave.

According to GHF, the unrest may have been deliberately incited.

“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd, armed and affiliated with Hamas, deliberately fomented the unrest,” the foundation stated.

GHF personnel at the scene reportedly observed firearms among those gathered. A U.S. staff member was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by a man in the crowd. However, the foundation’s claims have not been independently verified, and Hamas, the de facto governing authority in Gaza, has not issued a response.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was established in late May with the backing of Israel and the United States, following months of restrictions on aid deliveries into Gaza. It has since taken over large-scale food distribution operations in the territory.

Despite its stated mission to facilitate life-saving aid, the GHF has faced mounting criticism from the United Nations and international relief agencies. They argue that the foundation operates too few distribution centers, forcing thousands of desperate civilians to converge at limited sites, often under unsafe and unregulated conditions.

Wednesday’s riot is the latest in a string of fatal incidents near GHF-run sites. According to UN sources, hundreds of people have died at or near distribution points since the foundation began its operations, though the causes of death have varied, ranging from stampedes to alleged shootings.

While earlier deaths at aid sites have sometimes been attributed to Israeli military action—including the use of live ammunition near crowds—Wednesday’s incident has not, at this stage, been linked to any direct military involvement.

International observers continue to call for an overhaul of aid coordination mechanisms in Gaza, stressing the need for neutral, professionally managed operations with adequate security and access.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with over a million people facing acute food insecurity and limited access to clean water and medical care.