"I think I caught one," the moment American guards open fire on Palestinian civilians

Shocking footage, recently released, shows the moment when some American guards, contracted to supervise a camp where aid is distributed in Gaza, shoot at civilians, even celebrating.

In the video, machine gun fire is clearly visible towards civilians calling for help, while a voice in English is heard saying: “I think I got one.” Then, another voice adds: “Bravo, guys!”

The incident is suspected to have taken place at one of the centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by the US and Israel but widely criticized by the rest of the international community, writes A2 CNN.

A former security contractor at the centres told the BBC he saw a guard in a watchtower open fire with a machine gun on a group of women, children and elderly people who were slowly leaving the aid area. He added that a Palestinian man fell to the ground and remained motionless, while another guard, who was nearby, reacted by saying: “Fuck him, I think you shot him.” Then they laughed.

The Associated Press also reported that it spoke to two contractors from UG Solutions, which is subcontracted by GHF to provide security at the aid centers. They claim that the use of live bullets, explosive grenades and tear gas against unarmed Palestinian civilians is common.

According to them, many of the security guards employed in these countries are unqualified, unvetted, and act without fear of consequences, while being equipped with heavy weaponry.

Published photos and videos show large crowds of civilians being forced through narrow corridors created by the earth, while guards stand on high ground watching them.

Israel has denied that civilians were shot, but has admitted that “warning shots” were fired. However, the latest testimony marks the first time that a US employee has been directly implicated in the use of weapons against Palestinian civilians at the scene.

On the other hand, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has categorically denied the allegations, saying that “no civilians have ever been shot at their aid distribution centers.” They state that they operate in a hostile environment, where many actors have an interest in this initiative failing, and emphasize that their staff are trained and professional.

The new aid distribution model is designed to prevent food and supplies from falling into Hamas' hands, forcing citizens to walk long distances over open terrain to reach aid centers.

GHF claims to have distributed the equivalent of more than 50 million meals in Gaza since the start of its operations. (A2 Televizion)