### Israeli Forces Fire on Civilians Headed to Gaza Aid Centers, Red Cross Reports Multiple Deaths

In a tragic incident on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian civilians en route to humanitarian aid distribution centers in southern Gaza. The Red Cross reported that at least 27 people were pronounced dead at its nearby field hospital following the shooting.

Over the past few weeks, both the United Nations and various aid organizations had issued warnings that such incidents could occur, particularly as civilians needed to pass through Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) lines to reach newly established aid facilities.

This escalation comes on the heels of a new aid mechanism launched by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has the support of both the U.S. and Israel. The initiative aims to deliver aid to Palestinian civilians without allowing Hamas to take control of or gain credit for the resources.

The IDF confirmed its involvement in the Tuesday shooting, stating that a group of Palestinian civilians had diverged from the designated pathways to the aid center and were approaching IDF soldiers. According to the Red Cross, their field hospital received 184 patients, including 19 who were dead on arrival and another eight who succumbed to their injuries. The majority of the wounded individuals sustained gunshot wounds.

The incident has intensified international backlash against the new aid mechanism, which the UN and other aid organizations have refused to endorse, citing violations of essential humanitarian principles. Israeli political and military leaders, however, maintain that the mechanism is functioning effectively.

The strained situation in Gaza has been worsening since the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza collapsed two months ago, which led to Israel halting all deliveries of food, water, and medicine to the region. The ongoing blockade has led to dire warnings from the UN that food supplies will run out imminently.

In response to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis, the Israeli Security Cabinet announced its decision on Sunday to restart humanitarian aid transfers through existing channels, pending the operational readiness of the new aid mechanism. Despite these assurances, there remains significant uncertainty about the resumption of aid, especially given the UN's rejection of the new plan, which raises questions about whether donor countries will continue to fund it.

The GHF announced on Wednesday that Israel has agreed to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza imminently, although the Israeli government has yet to confirm this development officially. The situation remains extremely volatile, with the immediate future of aid to Gaza hanging in the balance.