The United Nations human rights office said Friday it has verified at least 613 Palestinian deaths near humanitarian aid sites in Gaza between 27 May and 27 June. Of those, 509 occurred at or immediately outside distribution points run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF); the remainder were recorded around convoys organised by the UN or other aid groups. The toll, compiled from hospital records, cemeteries and eyewitness accounts, is expected to rise as additional incidents are corroborated. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva that UN teams could not yet assign individual responsibility but said it was “clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points.” She called the situation unacceptable and urged an independent investigation, citing restricted access that hampers full verification. GHF, which began operating on 26 May, rejected the findings, insisting no serious injuries or deaths have occurred on its premises and arguing that security outside its sites falls under Israeli jurisdiction. The Israeli army said it is reviewing the reports and has issued updated instructions to troops intended to reduce friction with civilians. Medical staff at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis described the facility as a “massive trauma ward”, with daily arrivals of gunshot victims from the aid corridors. WHO envoy Rik Peeperkorn reported numerous cases of head, neck and chest wounds among boys and young men seeking food. The surge in casualties adds to a wider death toll that Gaza’s Health Ministry says now exceeds 57,000 since Israel resumed large-scale military operations in March.