The IDF has disputed reports, largely based on information from Hamas-run authorities, about shooting incidents in southern Gaza over the past few days and said it is investigating allegations that soldiers opened fire on civilians near an aid distribution centre, known as SDS 1, in Gaza.
Three incidents near the site were reported in as many days between Sunday and Tuesday, with the Hamas authorities claiming that a total of 58 people had been killed and blaming Israel, while the Red Cross reported a further three deaths.
However, there have been conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the alleged violence.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – the private American company operating the site –has denied that there was any disruption to distribution yesterday, with around two million meals handed out so far.
SDS 1 will be closed for “refurbishment” today, the foundation confirmed while urging Gazans to follow a pre-approved route to reach the facility when collecting aid.
The IDF, meanwhile, condemned “false reports” including the allegation of soldiers firing on civilians on Monday.
An army spokesperson said: “Findings from an initial inquiry indicate that the IDF did not fire on civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false.
"The IDF is cooperating with the American Civil Organisation [GHF] and international aid organisations to enable the distribution of aid to the Gazan residents – and not to Hamas.
“The IDF calls on the media to be cautious with information published by the Hamas terrorist organisation.”
The military also later published drone footage, which appeared to show masked gunmen firing at civilians attempting to collect aid in Khan Younis, adding: “Hamas is a brutal and murderous terrorist organisation that is starving the residents of Gaza.
"Hamas is doing everything in its power to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza.”
On Tuesday, though, the IDF did confirm that soldiers fired warning shots that morning at a group of “suspects”, which it said had departed the pre-approved route to the distribution centre and approached troops.
A spokesperson said: “The troops carried out warning fire and, after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects.
"The IDF is aware of reports regarding casualties and the details on the incident are being looked into.
"IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites.
“The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometre away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced towards the troops in such a way that pose a threat to them.”
SDS 1 is the first of four aid centres to open in southern Gaza under a new US-Israeli joint plan to prevent the theft of aid by Hamas. They are operated by the GHF and protected by private security contractors but sit within IDF-controlled areas, which are designated as combat zones.
Civilians are able to follow a pre-approved secure route down the Strip’s western coast to the facilities. The plan is intended to isolate Hamas in the north of the territory while allowing the civilian population to filter in “humanitarian zones” where they can receive aid.
The plan has been condemned by the UN, with humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher suggesting in a recent interview that it could constitute the use of food as a weapon of war – a war crime.
But Israel has suggested that UN opposition is related to the decision to remove its agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) from the aid distribution process. Israel has previously claimed that Unrwa had been infiltrated by Hamas and that members of the agency participated in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
