UN and aid groups condemn US-Israeli initiative after deadly scenes in Gaza

The United Nations and aid groups have spoken out after three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and dozens injured at an aid distribution point set up by an Israeli-US-backed initiative. 

There were chaotic scenes in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Tuesday as starving Palestinians rushed inside a facility holding aid, due to long delays conducting security checks on recipients. 

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the scenes as “heartbreaking, to say the least”. 

“We and our partners have a detailed, principled, operationally sound plan - supported by member states - to get aid to a desperate population,” Dujarric told reporters. 

“We continue to stress that a meaningful scale-up of humanitarian operations is essential to stave off famine and meet the needs of all civilians, wherever they are.”

Dujarric added that aid needed to be distributed in a way that was independent and impartial.

Read more: UN and aid groups condemn US-Israeli initiative after deadly scenes in Gaza