Gaza: Dozens killed as Israel bombs dialysis centre, UN slams GHF

More than 50 Palestinians have been killed this weekend as Israeli forces destroyed Gaza's last dialysis centre and opened fire near US-backed aid sites.
17 min read
02 June, 2025
Last Update
03 June, 2025 04:04 AM
Israeli has targeted Gaza's last dialysis unit as aid chaos sparks outrage among NGOs [Getty]

Israeli airstrikes have destroyed the only kidney dialysis centre in northern Gaza, and more than 50 Palestinians were killed over the weekend amid a surge of violence near US-backed humanitarian aid sites.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 54 Palestinians were killed in the past 48 hours, including 31 shot dead near an aid distribution centre in Rafah. Witnesses and emergency medics described chaotic scenes as Israeli forces allegedly fired on crowds waiting for food.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) said patients it treated at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported being "shot from all sides" by drones, tanks, and helicopters.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), launched with US backing to replace the long-established UN-led coordination model, has come under fire from international organisations who say it operates under Israeli military influence and lacks accountability. The UN has refused to work with the foundation, and on Sunday, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini warned that "aid distribution in Gaza has become a death trap".

Israel’s war on Gaza has already killed over 61,700. Thousands more are believed to be buried under rubble. The UN has warned of impending famine, with aid agencies calling Gaza "the hungriest place on earth".

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by Egypt and Qatar to broker a 60-day ceasefire have stalled. Hamas said it was prepared for renewed negotiations, but a US envoy dismissed its latest response as "totally unacceptable". Israel's Defence Minister said military operations will continue "regardless of talks".

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The New Arab Staff

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Gaza's Government Media Office confirmed that another 35 people have been wounded as the number of people killed rises to 52. 

Israel continues "the policy of starvation and systematic targeting of civilians for 93 days", the statement said.

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The New Arab Staff & Agencies

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The New Arab Staff

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The New Arab Staff

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The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 52 Palestinians and wounded more than 170 on Sunday near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Rafah. 

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) confirmed it treated patients at nearby Nasser Hospital with gunshot wounds. According to the NGO, victims described being "shot from all sides", from drones, helicopters, tanks, and ground troops. One survivor told reporters: "They told us to take food, then they fired from every direction."

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Israeli airstrike destroys Gaza's only dialysis centre
8:26 AM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Israeli forces have destroyed the only kidney dialysis centre serving northern Gaza. The centre, which had been struggling to operate under siege conditions, was hit during an overnight strike that killed several Palestinians and displaced others sheltering nearby. 

Gaza's Health Ministry says dozens of patients who relied on the centre for life-saving treatment have now been left without options, condemning the attack as a "death sentence". Local health workers warned that the destruction could lead to the deaths of dialysis patients within days unless emergency measures are taken. 

The facility had previously operated with minimal supplies and power, relying on solar backup after fuel lines were severed in early April.