The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified with at least eleven aid seekers killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday, part of a larger toll of at least 33 deaths linked to Israeli actions. This highlights the dire humanitarian crisis as aid remains critically needed.
Tragic Toll: Israeli Fire Claims Lives of Eleven Aid Seekers in Gaza
Tragic Toll: Israeli Fire Claims Lives of Eleven Aid Seekers in Gaza
In Gaza, eleven Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire amid escalating violence, as humanitarian efforts become increasingly perilous.
In a devastating turn of events, eleven Palestinians seeking aid were killed on Wednesday, according to rescuers and medics, amidst a backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza. This incident adds to the tragic tally of at least 33 confirmed fatalities connected to Israeli military actions on that day alone. The Hamas-run civil defense agency indicated that Israeli forces "opened fire and launched several shells" at lines of civilians gathering for urgently needed food supplies along Salah al-Din Road.
Israeli military spokespersons offered a different narrative, claiming troops operating in the Nuseirat area fired warning shots at a group perceived to pose a threat, denying any knowledge of casualties. However, reports from the civil defense agency state that 19 additional lives were lost due to three Israeli air strikes targeting both northern and southern Gaza, among them eight individuals killed when their home was hit in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City.
Further emphasizing the grave situation, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported that over 140 Palestinians had died in the previous 24 hours. Just a day prior, 51 individuals were killed while waiting for aid in Khan Younis, according to UN sources which later adjusted the figure to over 60. Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as Israeli tanks and drones opened fire near a charity center and a World Food Programme warehouse.
In a deeply troubling incident also occurring on Tuesday, seven individuals were reported dead and many more injured on Rashid Street as they attempted to secure aid. A doctor from al-Shifa hospital described the devastating impact of both air strikes and gunfire on the civilian population. Eyewitness accounts illustrated the desperate circumstances, with one man recounting narrowly escaping death while retrieving flour for his family.
A staggering number of nearly 400 people have been reported killed in their pursuit of aid since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distribution efforts on May 26. The GHF, with US backing, is attempting to streamline aid distribution, opting for direct management rather than working alongside established UN processes, an approach criticized for breaching humanitarian principles. Both the UN and independent aid groups have refused cooperation, cautioning against a worsening humanitarian disaster amid a prolonged Israeli blockade that was eased only marginally a month prior.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) condemned the GHF's operations as "lame, medieval, and lethal", urging for accountability for what they termed a "war crime". Meanwhile, the GHF defended its efforts, announcing that they have provided 30 million meals, emphasizing their commitment to address the dire food needs of Gaza's population.
The World Food Programme has echoed these concerns, describing recent food distributions as "a tiny fraction" of the overwhelming demand. WFP officials stress that large crowds forming at aid routes highlight the needed scale of food assistance necessary to stabilize the humanitarian crisis.
Contributing to the alarming situation is the ongoing conflict that reignited following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, claiming approximately 1,200 lives. The grim toll of violence in Gaza has now surpassed 55,637 fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian intervention.
