The Israel Defense Forces released drone footage purportedly showing armed individuals in Gaza targeting civilians, the IDF claimed on Sunday. This comes amidst allegations, firmly rejected by the IDF, that they were responsible for the deaths of numerous people gathering humanitarian aid.
The IDF said it was releasing additional information amid false reports that its soldiers fired upon civilians at an aid distribution site.
“Preliminary investigation results suggest that the IDF did not target civilians while they were at or near the humanitarian aid distribution point, and claims stating otherwise are incorrect,” the IDF stated. “The IDF is collaborating with the American Civil Organization (GHF) and international aid groups to facilitate aid distribution to Gaza residents—not Hamas.”
Israel has long said that Hamas routinely prevents aid from reaching civilians, while also deliberately putting them in harms’ way.
“Hamas is described as a ruthless terrorist group that deprives and risks the local population to maintain control over Gaza. In its ruthless actions and efforts to obstruct humanitarian aid, Hamas directly impacts Gaza’s residents,” the IDF stated on Sunday.
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Hamas is spreading false rumors and “fake news” to stop Israel from distributing aid.
“I urge not to believe every rumor spread by Hamas,” he said while in Rafah. “We will investigate each and every one of those incidents and each and every one of those allegations. We are a professional military.”
Israel said footage released by its military shows armed men, who are not IDF troops, shooting at civilians near a humanitarian aid distribution site in Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces (IDF))
In a separate incident overnight, the IDF said troops fired warning shots in the direction of several people advancing toward them near a humanitarian aid distribution site.
“Overnight, approximately one kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site, and outside the operating hours of the humanitarian aid distribution site, IDF troops acted to prevent several suspects from approaching the troops. During the activity, warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops. There is no connection between this incident and the false claims made against the IDF.”
