• 27 civilians killed by Israeli fire at a Gaza aid center.
• The incident has drawn condemnation from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• Israeli military claims the victims ignored warning shots while approaching the site.
• Over 180 additional injuries reported during the incident.
• Calls for an independent investigation into the rise in violence against civilians.

On June 3, at least 27 people were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on civilians near a US-backed aid distribution center in Rafah, Gaza. This marked the bloodiest incident reported amid escalating violence, with the International Committee of the Red Cross stating that its field hospital received a total of 184 casualties, including individuals dead upon arrival. Survivors described attempting to reach the aid distribution site when the shots were fired, highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the region, according to Channel News Asia, India Times, and Dawn.

The Israeli military stated that they opened fire after some individuals deviated from designated access routes to the center and failed to heed warning shots. However, that explanation has not quelled outrage, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denouncing the killing of aid-seeking Palestinians as "unacceptable.” Major human rights organizations have called the attacks on civilians a violation of international law, categorizing them as “war crimes," according to India Times and Dawn.

In addition to the fatalities, more than 90 others were injured in the shooting incident. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the escalation of violence at aid sites is ongoing, with civilians feeling increasingly at risk as they seek food and medical care. The situation was exacerbated by a similar shooting incident on June 1, where at least 31 people were killed near the same distribution center, raising concerns about the safety of aid operations in the region, according to Channel News Asia, India Times, and Dawn.

The United Nations and various human rights groups have called for an urgent investigation into these incidents, emphasizing the critical humanitarian access issues faced by Gazans amid ongoing conflict. The UN's rights chief has voiced concerns that obstructing access to food relief constitutes a grave breach of international law and underscores the need for immediate action, according to India Times and Dawn.