• At least 20 Palestinians were killed during a chaotic stampede at a Gaza aid distribution site.
• The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation blames armed individuals linked to Hamas for inciting panic.
• Witnesses report that panic was exacerbated by the use of tear gas by security personnel.
• The Palestinian Health Ministry indicates this tragedy reflects the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
• Since late May, the UN reports hundreds of Palestinians have died seeking aid in the region.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a tragic crowd crush at a US- and Israel-backed aid distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Khan Younis, Gaza. The GHF reported that 19 individuals were trampled while one was stabbed during the incident, which they described as a "chaotic and dangerous surge" triggered by armed individuals allegedly linked to Hamas, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

Witnesses at the scene reported that panic ensued partly due to the deployment of tear gas by security personnel, which reportedly caused suffocation followed by a surge toward the limited entry points of the facility. The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that at least 21 people died as a result of suffocation and crowd crush near the aid distribution center, as reported by AA and Al Jazeera.

The scene at Khan Younis underscores the catastrophic humanitarian crisis plaguing Gaza, with the United Nations reporting that at least 875 individuals have died in the vicinity of food distribution sites since the GHF began operations. Many of these fatalities were attributed to violence and gunfire, primarily from Israeli forces, as noted by AA and BBC.

As the humanitarian situation escalates, with rampant violence and insufficient aid, GHF's operations continue to draw criticism for their management practices, with many observers labeling their distribution sites as "inherently unsafe," according to statements from humanitarian organizations and reports from Reuters and Channel News Asia.