Israel: UN chief's call to probe deaths near Gaza aid site 'disgrace'

UN Secretary General António Guterres on Monday called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid distribution centres in Gaza, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres' statement a "disgrace" and criticized the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals.

"Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages," Marmorstein wrote in a post on X.

Guterres had earlier demanded an inquiry into reports, based on Hamas claims, that Israeli strikes killed civilians seeking aid. The Hamas-run media office on Sunday said 30 people were killed in such incidents.

"It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," Guterres wrote on X, adding that Israel is obligated under international humanitarian law to facilitate aid deliveries.

The Israeli military rejected the allegations, saying a preliminary review found no evidence of fire on civilians near or inside aid facilities. The claims could not be independently verified.

Israel has recently allowed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip, bypassing UN agencies while resuming limited aid deliveries after a nearly three-month blockade.