Israel’s military has launched an internal investigation following reports that soldiers were instructed to fire upon unarmed Palestinians at food distribution hubs in the Gaza Strip.
The probe was initiated after the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published testimonies from soldiers alleging that commanders authorized live fire to disperse crowds gathering around aid distribution points. According to the soldiers, orders to “clear the approaches” were given even when the crowds posed no immediate threat. These directives reportedly originated from brigade-level officers and were executed in at least 19 incidents over the past month.
International concern has grown as the United Nations reports that at least 410 people have been killed while attempting to access the four Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites since late May. The GHF’s executive director, however, disputed these figures in an interview with Sky News, calling them “disinformation.” Independent tallies by Reuters and the UN humanitarian office indicate that the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 56,000 Palestinian and 1,706 Israeli deaths.
Official Responses
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have dismissed the allegations as “malicious falsehoods” that defame the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). An army spokesperson stated that “directives prohibit deliberate fire on civilians” and promised that any soldier found violating these orders would face prosecution.
Continued Strikes Amid Investigation
Despite the ongoing investigation, Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire continued overnight, targeting multiple sites from Friday night into Saturday. Hospital officials reported at least 49 fatalities, including individuals sleeping in tents at Gaza City’s Palestine Stadium and others in shelters at al-Mawasi, an area previously designated by Israel as a “safe zone.”
Calls for Ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism for a potential ceasefire, stating that an agreement “could be reached within the next week.” Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday to discuss ceasefire possibilities and the allegations concerning the military’s engagement rules. However, any concessions may strain Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, which includes parties opposing a halt to military operations or changes to engagement protocols.
Humanitarian Concerns
The United Nations human rights office warned that using food access as a weapon against civilians constitutes a war crime. Their latest report indicates that all 2.3 million residents of Gaza face severe food insecurity, with famine looming in the northern regions if conditions do not improve. The World Food Programme noted that malnutrition rates among children under five have doubled since March.
Aid organizations have criticized both access restrictions and the dangers at distribution points. Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, Gaza Emergency Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières, commented, “If people arrive early and approach the checkpoints, they get shot… if they arrive late, they shouldn’t be there because it is an ‘evacuated zone,’ so they get shot.”
Investigation Underway
The Military Advocate General’s office is currently collecting operational logs, drone footage, and communication records as part of the investigation. Should evidence of unlawful use of lethal force be found, cases will be referred to the IDF Criminal Investigations Division and could potentially proceed to Israel’s civilian courts.
