Local health officials said Israeli forces killed six Palestinians near a help distribution center in southern Gaza on Saturday night, the fourth incident of this type in a week.
The Palestinians were killed in West Rafah “when citizens gathered with the hope of receiving help near the distribution point,” according to Marwan Al-Hams, director of Field Hospitals of the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
None of the victims have been identified at this time. NBC News could not immediately verify the number of victims. The World Health Organization has said that it considers the data of the Ministry of Health.
In a statement, Israel’s defense forces recognized the incident, saying that the troops fired “warning shots” in “several suspects” in the refugee field of Tel al-sultan, who felt that it represented a threat.
“Despite the previous warnings that the area is an active combat zone during night hours, several suspects tried to approach the FDI troops that operated in the Tel Al-Al-Sultultation area during the night, in a way that represented a threat to the troops,” said the FDI. “The troops called the suspects to move them away, but as they continued advancing in a way that endangered the troops, the soldiers responded with warning shots.”
The IDF did not specify what threat they raised the “suspects” and did not realize the deaths reported, but said that “he is aware of the reports of victims.”
This is the fourth incident in a week in which local health officials said the Palestinians were killed near the aid distribution centers.
On Sunday, more than 30 people died in Rafah and hundreds were injured, according to local health officials and humanitarian workers. Talking to the NBC News crew on the ground, four witnesses said they were criticized from the air and on the floor while waiting to collect help near a distribution site.
An Israeli military official told NBC News that the troops fired “warning shots” to “several suspects” half a mile of the help distribution center, calling for victims reports on the “false statements” site.
On Monday, three Palestinians died and dozens of others were injured when Israeli forces opened fire in a food distribution site in Rafah, Gaza’s health officials said.
The next day, at least 27 people were killed early in the morning after the FDI troops opened fire near a help distribution point in Rafah, according to local health officials. More than 160 were injured, including a 5 -year -old girl.
The video captured by the NBC News crew on the ground showed people, some dead and others injured, being urgently taken to the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
The IDF said their troops fired “warning fire” to the people who believed they represented a threat to about 0.3 miles from a help distribution site in Rafah, Add that he was aware and investigating victims reports. He did not explain what threat they raised those people.
