Israel Denies Allegations of IDF Targeting Civilians as UN Flags Gaza Health Emergency
In a strongly worded joint statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz dismissed claims published by Haaretz alleging that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were ordered to open fire on unarmed Palestinians awaiting humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“The State of Israel categorically rejects the contemptible blood libels published in Haaretz,” the statement read, referring to the article titled ‘IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid’. “These are malicious falsehoods meant to defame the IDF, one of the most moral militaries in the world.”
The Israeli leadership asserted that the IDF operates under strict rules of engagement and in extremely complex environments, often facing a terrorist enemy embedded within civilian populations. “IDF soldiers are given clear directives to avoid harming innocents and act accordingly,” the statement said, adding that Israel continues to combat Hamas, which it accuses of using civilians as human shields and spreading disinformation to damage Israel’s international standing.
Israel also urged democratic nations to support its efforts in what it described as a just and moral battle against Hamas. Meanwhile, United Nations humanitarian agencies reported an escalating public health crisis in Gaza, warning of preventable disease outbreaks and deteriorating conditions in healthcare facilities.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 19,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have been recorded in recent weeks, along with more than 200 instances each of acute jaundice and bloody diarrhea. These outbreaks are linked to severe shortages of clean water, fuel, and sanitation infrastructure. “This dire situation highlights the urgent need for medical supplies, fuel, and hygiene essentials to avert a full-scale collapse of Gaza’s public health system,” OCHA said.
The humanitarian partners also reported a mass casualty event at Al Aqsa Hospital following an airstrike in Deir al-Balah. The hospital received more than 20 dead and over 70 injured, with additional patients redirected to nearby facilities due to overcrowding.
“Civilians in Gaza continue to face daily risks—whether from airstrikes, shelling, or in desperate attempts to secure food for their families,” OCHA stated. “These tragedies must not become normalized and must end immediately.” The situation remains deeply polarized, with ongoing tensions between narratives of military necessity and mounting international concern over the humanitarian fallout in Gaza.
