There is substantial evidence that civilians in Gaza have been killed while trying to access aid, particularly at sites set up or guarded by the Israeli military.
1. A UN report stated that nearly 800 Palestinians were killed near aid distribution sites and along aid convoy routes over a six-week period in mid-2025. These incidents included more than 600 people killed at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid locations.
2. Israeli military officials admitted that artillery fire near these sites was often "inaccurate and uncalculated," with one incident alone resulting in 30 to 40 civilian deaths. Some IDF officers confirmed an internal investigation was underway.
3. Eyewitnesses and aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described being fired on while trying to deliver or access food. Some survivors called the sites "killing fields" and said people were being shot daily while waiting for food.
4. The Washington Post reported at least three confirmed incidents of Israeli forces firing on crowds at GHF centers, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. Other human rights groups, such as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, documented similar patterns of violence.
5. This follows a pattern seen in earlier incidents such as the "Flour Massacre" in early 2024, where civilians were shot while collecting aid. Initial IDF denials were later replaced with admissions that shots were fired.
In conclusion, although Israel has not officially confirmed that aid sites were used as deliberate bait, the consistent reports from the UN, NGOs, witnesses, journalists, and even some IDF sources strongly support the claim that civilians were targeted while trying to access food. Multiple sources describe this as a systematic and repeated pattern.
