Deadly Scene Unfolds as Gazans Seek Food
Tragedy struck in Gaza on Wednesday as eleven Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire while desperately seeking humanitarian aid. This incident occurred amid broader violence across the territory that claimed at least 33 lives by Israeli gunfire and strikes that day, according to rescuers and medics.
Accounts from the Hamas-run civil defence agency describe Israeli forces “open[ing] fire and launch[ing] several shells” at thousands of people gathered on the main Salah al-Din Road, queueing for critically needed food supplies.
Responding to inquiries about this specific incident, the Israeli military stated that troops operating in the Nuseirat area had fired warning shots overnight after a group approached them in a manner deemed a potential threat. The military added it was “unaware of any injuries” resulting from the incident.
In addition to the aid-related fatalities, civil defence officials reported another 19 people were killed on Wednesday in three separate Israeli air strikes in northern and southern Gaza, including eight who died when a residential home was hit in the Zeitoun area of Gaza City. Regarding these strikes, the Israeli military stated its operations were aimed at “dismantl[ing] Hamas military capabilities” in the territory.
Growing Tolls and Previous Deadly Incidents
These latest deaths add to a mounting toll of Palestinians killed while attempting to access aid. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 140 people were killed across the territory in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon.
Just the day before, on Tuesday, dozens were killed near aid distribution sites. The health ministry reported 51 deaths in the southern city of Khan Younis, while UN partner health organisations cited a figure of over 60. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that Israeli tanks and drones opened fire on crowds gathered near a charity community centre and a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse. The Israeli military acknowledged its troops were in the area and stated the details were under review.
Separately on Tuesday, the civil defence agency reported seven more people seeking aid were killed, and many injured, on Rashid Street northwest of Gaza City. A doctor at Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital told Reuters that these fatalities were caused by Israeli air strikes, with injuries from gunfire. The human cost was tragically illustrated by Umm Fida Masoud, who recounted her son being severely injured, stating he “went to bring a bag of flour and came back [injured] in a bag.”
Overall, Gaza’s health ministry indicates that nearly 400 people have been killed while trying to obtain aid since late May. This period coincides with the opening of new aid distribution centres.
The Contested Aid System and Deepening Crisis
The surge in deaths near aid distribution points is linked by many to the challenges and dangers surrounding the delivery of humanitarian assistance. One point of contention is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an initiative backed by Israel and the US that uses private security contractors. The GHF aims to bypass the UN as the main aid provider, with the stated goal from the US and Israel of preventing aid diversion by Hamas, an accusation the group denies.
However, UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF system, arguing it contravenes the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. They warn this system contributes to chaos and danger.
Incidents near GHF distribution sites, including those at al-Alam in southern Rafah and in the central Netzarim corridor, have reportedly resulted in dozens, if not hundreds, of deaths since operations began in late May, according to the Gaza health ministry and reports from rescuers and medics. Some Palestinians have described the GHF operation as a “trap.” The GHF, for its part, stated it has distributed 30 million meals “without incident” at or near its sites during operating hours and remains focused on feeding those in need.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), strongly condemned the system, calling it “lame, medieval and lethal.” He stated that “Inviting starving people to their death is a war crime” and demanded accountability, calling it a “disgrace and a stain on our collective consciousness.” The UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) has noted that deadly incidents are increasingly occurring not just at GHF sites but also along routes used by the UN for humanitarian deliveries, underscoring the pervasive danger.
Humanitarian Situation Nears Catastrophe
Aid groups continue to warn of catastrophic levels of hunger and the risk of famine across Gaza, exacerbated by an earlier 11-week total Israeli blockade that was only partially eased a month prior. The WFP noted that the 9,000 tonnes of food aid dispatched over four weeks was a “tiny fraction” of what’s needed, leading desperate crowds to gather along transport routes hoping to intercept supplies. Only a “massive scale-up in food distributions,” the WFP stated, can stabilize the situation. OCHA has also warned of critical fuel shortages impacting aid delivery and essential services like clean water.
The dire situation extends to critical healthcare infrastructure. Key hospitals, such as Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, are struggling to function amidst strikes and evacuation orders. Nasser is described as the only hospital in southern Gaza with critical facilities like ITU beds and a blood bank, with warnings that its collapse would have devastating consequences for hundreds of patients.
Aid delivery figures from the Israeli military body Cogat on a recent Tuesday showed 85 lorry loads entered southern and northern Gaza via crossings, with 66 collected, while another 380 awaited collection by the UN. However, aid groups emphasize that the rate and nature of distribution are insufficient and dangerous.
It is important to note that verifying casualty figures and specific details of incidents in Gaza independently is often challenging due to restrictions on media access to the territory.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis is unfolding within the context of the broader conflict, which began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and resulting in 251 hostages taken. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza that followed has, according to the territory’s health ministry, killed at least 55,637 people since October 7.
