Israeli occupation forces opened fire directly at hundreds of civilians as they attempted to reach an aid distribution centre in the al-Mawasi area of western Rafah
At least 31 Palestinians were killed and over 115 others wounded Sunday morning in a new massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces near an aid distribution centre west of Rafah in southern Gaza, Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA) reported.
According to local sources, Israeli occupation forces opened fire directly at hundreds of civilians as they attempted to reach an aid distribution centre in the al-Mawasi area of western Rafah. The indiscriminate shooting resulted in a high number of casualties, with victims falling while seeking food and humanitarian assistance.
This incident follows a disturbing pattern in recent days, during which Israeli forces have killed 17 Palestinians and wounded dozens more as they tried to access aid distribution areas.
These attacks come amid a systematic starvation policy imposed by Israel, which has kept Gaza’s crossings sealed for over 90 days—blocking the entry of vital humanitarian supplies, particularly food—driving much of the population to the brink of famine.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023 has so far resulted in at least 54,381 documented Palestinian fatalities, with over 124,381 others injured.
Thousands of victims are feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israeli attacks
Deal With Hamas
Hamas has given “positive approval” to the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, a senior official from the Palestinian militant group said, describing it as part of a comprehensive agreement requiring full Israeli compliance.
The Hamas official, who requested anonymity, told Xinhua that the group’s written response to international mediators includes specific timelines and implementation details, emphasizing the need for Israeli adherence to all terms, including reconstruction commitments.
“The ball is now in the court of the U.S. administration to pressure the Israeli government to comply with the agreement, rather than allowing it to prolong the war,” the official said.
The proposal outlines a three-phase process for releasing all Israeli hostages held in Gaza for more than 60 days under international supervision, according to the source.
Hamas is demanding the reopening of all border crossings without restrictions and seeking international guarantees to prevent renewed hostilities. The group also called for aid distribution to continue through existing mechanisms.
Under the terms, Israeli forces would withdraw to positions held before March 2, followed by a five-year truce. A civilian technocratic committee would assume administrative responsibilities in Gaza after implementation, the official said.
In a separate statement Saturday, Hamas confirmed it had submitted its formal response to the ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The deal would see 10 living Israeli hostages released alongside the remains of 18 others in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, Hamas said.
The proposed agreement aims to establish a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and ensure humanitarian aid flows to the enclave, the group added.
