Two US workers injured during aid distribution in Gaza

2025-07-05 21:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Two American workers have been injured in a hand grenade attack in the southern Gaza Strip while distributing humanitarian aid in the city of Khan Younis, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by the United States and Israel, has confirmed.

According to the foundation's official statement, the attack took place on Saturday and responsibility for it was attributed to Hamas, although the latter has not yet commented on the incident. The injured employees are in stable condition and are receiving medical treatment. No civilians or other staff members were injured.

The GHF began its operations in May, distributing aid to several locations in southern and central Gaza. However, the operation has been the subject of harsh criticism from international organizations due to the risk it poses to civilians, who are often forced to cross into war zones to receive aid.

According to the United Nations and local doctors, since the start of the GHF operations, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to receive food aid. Israel, for its part, has said that the new distribution system is intended to prevent aid from ending up in the hands of Hamas.

The foundation said the attack came “at the conclusion of a successful distribution, during which thousands of Gazans received food safely.” The statement also said the GHF had previously warned of “credible threats” from Hamas against American employees, Palestinians, and civilians.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defense Agency in Gaza reported that 32 Palestinians were killed on Saturday by Israeli military operations.

On Friday, Hamas said it was ready to resume talks on a ceasefire deal proposed by the United States. The deal provides for a gradual exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, but Hamas has demanded several changes to the initial draft.

According to diplomatic sources, Hamas is demanding that the United States guarantee an end to fighting after the ceasefire and that aid distribution be carried out only by the United Nations and partner organizations, removing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation from this role. Israel has so far rejected these conditions.

Currently, 50 Israeli hostages are still held in Gaza, and it is believed that at least 20 of them are alive.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll has reached 57,338 people since the start of the Israeli offensive on October 7, 2023, in response to a Hamas attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.