by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel’s Foreign Ministry sharply criticized United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday after he called for an “immediate and independent investigation” into deadly shootings near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza–without once mentioning Hamas.
The controversy follows two days of violence near aid sites in Rafah and Khan Younis. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 24 Palestinians were killed on Sunday in what it claimed was Israeli fire on civilians collecting food. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied the allegation, calling the reports “Hamas disinformation” and warning media outlets to treat Hamas-issued statements with skepticism.
In a statement Monday, Guterres said he was “appalled” by reports of Palestinian deaths and injuries and insisted that “perpetrators must be held accountable.” Yet his statement made no reference to Hamas, prompting a stern response from Israeli officials.
“Even if you look very hard, there’s one word you won’t find in the Secretary-General’s statement: Hamas,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein on . “Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages.”
What a disgrace.
Even if you look very hard, there’s one word you won’t find in the Secretary-General’s statement: Hamas.
Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages.
Not a word about the fact that… pic.twitter.com/YEnNaDWdKD— Oren Marmorstein (@OrenMarmorstein) June 2, 2025
The IDF later released drone footage showing masked gunmen firing on civilians near aid convoys in Khan Younis–evidence Israel says proves Hamas is deliberately targeting Gazans to disrupt humanitarian efforts.
The U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which oversees some of the food distribution operations, said neither shooting incident occurred near its secure aid centers. “Our distribution sites were fully operational and safe. On Monday alone, 21 truckloads delivered over 20,000 food boxes,” a spokesperson said.
GHF acknowledged reports of a separate incident involving casualties “well beyond our secure distribution site,” noting the IDF reported suspects had entered a restricted military zone. The IDF confirmed it had fired on individuals approaching troops in a threatening manner, stressing that warning shots were fired first and that the action occurred a significant distance from the aid zone.
Adding to the growing body of evidence, the Center for Peace Communications released a video Tuesday featuring a Gaza resident who directly blamed Hamas for the attacks. “Hamas would rather we die of hunger than let the American aid distribution mechanism succeed,” the man said, accusing the terror group of manipulating humanitarian aid for control.
Israel has long accused Hamas of exploiting and obstructing humanitarian aid to maintain power in Gaza, a claim increasingly echoed by local witnesses and international observers.
While the UN chief continues to push for an investigation, critics say any inquiry that excludes Hamas’ role would fail to address the root causes of the crisis–and potentially embolden those disrupting aid meant for Gaza’s civilian population.
"Hamas attacked queues of people waiting to receive aid from the American company in Gaza … while on social media, Hamas threatens and incites against those who receive American aid."
An eye witness to tragedy in southern Gaza speaks out.
Watch: pic.twitter.com/a6E5fl8yVz
— Center for Peace Communications (@PeaceComCenter) June 2, 2025
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Romania and neighboring Hungary are facing an energy crisis linked to a record heat wave and the related low level of the Danube River, with Romania forced to shut down its last operating nuclear reactor while Hungary struggles to keep the only one of its four Paks reactors still operating online.
An elderly Christian leader has been detained in India for allegedly offending the religious sentiments of the Asian nation’s Hindu majority on social media.
Members of Pakistan’s Christian minority were reeling Friday after numerous violent incidents over faith and what they say were false allegations of blasphemy against Islam, the majority religion in the Asian nation.
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits remained relatively low in early August, offering another sign that widespread layoffs have yet to take hold even as hiring across the U.S. economy remains subdued.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a second preemptive airstrike in Gaza in two days Thursday, targeting a Hamas terror cell in Khan Yunis that Israeli military officials said was preparing an attack against Israeli forces.
The Trump administration has announced nearly $2 billion in health and humanitarian assistance for faith-based organizations, placing several major Christian ministries at the center of a reshaped U.S. foreign-aid strategy following sweeping cuts to USAID programs.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has cast doubt on a controversial Russian-led expansion of Hungary’s only nuclear power plant after record-low levels of the Danube River nearly forced its existing reactors into a complete shutdown.