On Sunday, Israeli gunfire killed at least 67 Palestinians who were waiting for aid in northern Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The victims were part of a large crowd gathered near U.N. aid trucks as they waited for food and supplies. In addition to those killed, dozens more were reported injured during the incident, marking one of the highest death tolls from similar incidents. Just a day earlier, 36 people had died in a similar attack. Another six individuals were killed near a separate aid site in southern Gaza, the Ministry said.
The Israeli military responded by stating that its forces had fired warning shots at the crowd in an effort to remove what it called “an immediate threat.” The military’s initial reports claimed that the casualty figures may have been inflated, stressing that humanitarian aid trucks were not intentionally targeted during the attack.
U.N. and Humanitarian Agencies React
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) condemned the violence against civilians, reiterating that “any violence involving civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable.” A WFP convoy of 25 trucks carrying vital food aid came under fire shortly after entering Gaza, as the trucks encountered large, desperate crowds. Humanitarian workers reported that these attacks only worsened the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where food is rapidly becoming scarce.
Hamas officials also condemned the attack, expressing anger over the mounting casualties and the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza. They warned that these deaths could significantly hinder ceasefire discussions taking place in Qatar. In total, health authorities reported that 90 people died across Gaza on Sunday, including those killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes.
Displaced Gazans Forced to Evacuate Amid Airstrikes
As Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning of new evacuations in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza, residents began fleeing their homes. The region, which houses hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans, was hit by Israeli airstrikes that destroyed three homes. Despite Israel’s military claiming that it had not yet entered these districts, residents feared further escalation. Israel’s forces have so far refrained from entering these areas due to the belief that Hamas may be holding hostages there.
At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages held by Hamas are believed to still be alive, but their fate remains uncertain, heightening concerns among their families.
