Killings near Gaza aid centre will deepen criticism of Israel's new distribution system

Western diplomats are looking on with dismay at the killing of hungry Gazans near aid hubs, writes Jeremy Bowen.

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An official statement from the Israeli military describes a very different picture. It said "several suspects" moved towards Israeli forces "deviating from the designated access routes". Troops "carried out warning fire… additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced towards the troops".

The killing of civilians who came looking for food aid will redouble criticism of the controversial new system of distributing aid in Gaza.

The new aid hubs in Gaza are a scheme conceived by Israel with the support of the United States to replace the operation run by United Nations agencies and other experienced international aid groups. A new private body, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) employs armed security teams provided by an American company at its hubs, which are so far in areas of southern Gaza under full Israeli military control.

The GHF started after a total Israeli ban on shipments of food and other aid into Gaza left the entire population at the risk of famine, according to the agency that collates data on food emergencies on behalf of countries and the UN.