Another day of intense violence has unfolded in Gaza, with dozens of Palestinians reported killed, including at aid distribution points. This comes as Israel confirmed the deaths of seven of its soldiers in recent fighting.
Palestinian health authorities and correspondents on the ground report a significant increase in casualties. According to Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent, over 100 Palestinians have been killed since dawn on Wednesday alone. Gaza’s health ministry detailed at least 74 deaths and 391 injuries in the preceding 24 hours, pushing the total Palestinian death toll since October 2023 past 56,000 killed and over 132,000 injured.
Deadly Incidents Target Aid Seekers and Civilians
Reports highlight particularly deadly incidents targeting civilians. In Rafah, southern Gaza, dozens of Palestinians were killed and injured near a private aid distribution site. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 22 killed and over 120 wounded, including children, near a facility linked to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Local health authorities and eyewitnesses cited figures potentially as high as 31 deaths. Eyewitnesses described gunfire coming from multiple directions, with many victims suffering gunshot wounds, including in the upper body.
The GHF, a private group involved in aid delivery endorsed by Israel, denied these reports, calling them “false and fabricated” and blaming Hamas for spreading misinformation – a claim not independently verified. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also stated they were unaware of casualties caused by their fire at the site and were reviewing the matter. The GHF system, which bypasses the UN, has drawn criticism from aid groups who deem it unworkable and dangerous, raising concerns about the potential weaponization of food aid.
Other attacks included the reported bombing of the Amr Ibn Al-Aas School in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, sheltering displaced families, which resulted in at least five deaths. Shelling in the Al-Karama neighborhood reportedly killed two people and injured several children, while another airstrike hit a residential home in central Khan Younis.
Israeli Soldier Casualties Confirmed
Amidst the rising Palestinian death toll, Israel confirmed that seven of its soldiers were killed and more than a dozen wounded in recent clashes in Khan Younis. Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a complex ambush in the area, releasing video footage reportedly showing an attack on two Israeli armored personnel carriers (APCs). A spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades vowed that more Israeli soldier casualties would occur as long as the conflict continues.
Palestinian Frustration Mounts Over Conflict Duration
Displaced Palestinians in Gaza express deep frustration over the conflict stretching on for nearly two years, contrasting its duration with the recent, brief 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Residents like Um Zidan, displaced from northern Gaza, lament their suffering, homelessness, and the prolonged violence. Mazen al-Jomla, displaced from Shati camp, questioned why the war continues in Gaza when Israel’s assault on Iran, based on accusations of seeking nuclear weapons, concluded swiftly. He described widespread destruction and loss of life in Gaza.
Broader Regional Tensions: The Israel-Iran Context
The recent limited conflict between Israel and Iran, while brief, remains a focal point in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the ceasefire between the two adversaries is “volatile and fragile” and urged renewed diplomatic negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. European powers are reportedly working towards a diplomatic path to curb Iran’s uranium enrichment activities ahead of a UN sanctions deadline in October 2025. Iran maintains its nuclear program is purely peaceful.
Debate continues regarding the effectiveness of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. While the White House stated the sites were buried under “miles and miles of rubble,” Iran claimed to have moved 400kg of enriched uranium before the strikes. The US denied prior knowledge of such a move. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, noted the agency “lost visibility” on this material once hostilities began but stressed it wasn’t necessarily “lost or hidden.” US Vice President JD Vance indicated the US would discuss the issue with Iran, aiming to “do something with that fuel.”
Proliferation experts suggest the recent attacks on Iran by Israel and the US could paradoxically push Tehran towards seeking nuclear weapons as a means of strategic deterrence against future targeting. Former US Department of State official Alan Eyre noted that while the US intelligence community previously didn’t believe Iran sought nuclear weapons, recent events might force Iran to contemplate this path for long-term security.
On the Israeli side, Mossad spy agency director David Barnea stated the 12-day war against Iran inflicted more damage than anticipated, significantly thwarting the Iranian threat.
Political and Diplomatic Movements
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, mediated by the US, are reportedly intensifying. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated military operations would continue regardless of the talks. Hamas submitted a response to a US-backed proposal, including amendments related to hostage and prisoner exchanges and the timing of an end to the war. A US envoy reportedly deemed Hamas’s response “totally unacceptable,” while a senior Hamas official described the reaction as “unfair” and biased.
Beyond the immediate conflict zones, the Israeli military also conducted raids in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager during a raid in Jenin.
In related developments, the UK government is reportedly planning to ban the direct action group Palestine Action under anti-terror legislation, while the Board of Deputies of British Jews suspended members who criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza in a recent letter. An Israeli poll indicated a majority (62%) support reaching a deal with Hamas to free captives and end the war in Gaza, though a separate majority (52%) opposed a ceasefire deal with Iran.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with continued displacement, overwhelming the health system, and significant aid worker deaths reported alongside projections of severe acute malnutrition among young children.
