26 killed in Israeli shelling near aid centre in Rafah – Medics

At least 26 Palestinians have been killed and around 150 others injured following Israeli tank shelling and gunfire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to local medical sources and eyewitnesses.

The incident took place near a US-backed aid distribution centre in the city, where thousands of displaced Palestinians had gathered in search of food and basic supplies amid Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist based in Rafah, told the BBC that Israeli tanks approached the area and opened fire on the crowd, triggering panic and chaos among the civilians assembled there.

“This was not a combat zone,” said Ghareeb. “People were standing in line for food. The tanks came in and suddenly we heard explosions and screaming. It was horrifying.”

Graphic videos and photos shared by local journalists and activists depict scenes of carnage: limp bodies loaded onto donkey carts, bloodied survivors stumbling through dust and debris, and frantic efforts to transport the wounded to the Red Cross field hospital in the nearby al-Mawasi zone — a narrow coastal strip where thousands of displaced families are sheltering in makeshift tents.

Rescue efforts were reportedly delayed or obstructed. Several eyewitnesses claimed that ambulances were unable to access the site of the shelling due to ongoing military activity and destroyed infrastructure.

“Most of the injured were carried by hand or by carts,” said a volunteer medic speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal. “We couldn’t even get stretchers to everyone.”

The Israeli military has not yet commented publicly on the incident. However, Israeli officials have previously argued that Rafah remains a key target due to the alleged presence of Hamas fighters and infrastructure in the area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new phase of its ground operations in Rafah in early May, despite international concern over the safety of civilians.

This latest strike follows a series of deadly incidents in Rafah in recent weeks, including an airstrike last Sunday that killed at least 45 Palestinians, prompting global condemnation and renewed calls for a ceasefire.

The UN has repeatedly warned that no place in Gaza is currently safe and has urged both sides to ensure the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law.

As night fell over Rafah, the streets around the aid centre remained strewn with personal belongings, discarded food packages, and bloodstained clothing — grim reminders of what had been a lifeline for many in a city on the brink of collapse.

The number of casualties is expected to rise, as many of the injured are in critical condition and hospitals continue to struggle with shortages of medicine, electricity, and personnel.