At least 20 people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday while trying to access a food aid site backed by Israel and the U.S. It's the latest incident in a growing number of deaths at or near aid distribution sites.

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At least 20 people were killed at an aid distribution site in southern Gaza operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization backed by Israel and the U.S. The deaths occurred during a chaotic rush for food, with witnesses describing severe crowding and desperation among those seeking aid. The GHF is currently the only group permitted by Israel to distribute aid in Gaza after the removal of the United Nations. 

The incident has drawn criticism from NGOs and the U.N., who describe the current aid distribution system as unsafe and poorly managed. Oxfam and other organizations attribute the ongoing dangers to the militarized nature of GHF's operations. The U.N. reports that at least 875 Palestinians seeking food have died in similar incidents over the past six weeks, most near GHF sites, though GHF disputes these figures.

Rush for food leaves 20 dead at Gaza aid site

Frantic Palestinians carrying friends and relatives arrive at the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. Doctors declare at least 20 people dead. Trampled at a chaotic aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, GHF. Palestinians are dying for a kilo of flour, he says. I spent 30 minutes squished against the gates, he says. I passed out. GHF is an organization made up of armed private contractors backed by Israel and the U.S. It's the only outside group Israel allows to distribute aid in Gaza after kicking out the U.N. Make no mistake, this tragic event incident was no accident. This was a calculated provocation part of a pattern of targeted efforts by Hamas. As its proof, GHF released a photo of a man it says is believed to be with Hamas and a picture of a kind of pistol it says is known to be used by Hamas. Hamas denies involvement. But hunger has brought a whole new level of desperation to Gaza and NGOs like Oxfam which used to deliver aid alongside the U.N. say GHF's model is mostly to blame. Distribution, the militarized distribution system that is in place today is a very poorly managed and planned system. It is designed to hurt. It is designed to lack dignity. The U.N. calls the system inherently unsafe. It says at least 875 Palestinians seeking food have been killed in the last six weeks. The majority near GHF sites. GHF says Wednesday's deaths are the only ones it's aware of. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem.

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Rush for food leaves 20 dead at Gaza aid site

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