Israeli Forces Kill Four Palestinians Seeking Aid Near Gaza City
Israeli troops shot and killed four Palestinians near Gaza City as they attempted to access humanitarian aid, amid escalating tensions and a declared famine in the region.
On Sunday, Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinians traveling through a military zone south of Gaza City, according to Al-Awda Hospital and eyewitnesses. The individuals were en route to a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the Netzarim corridor. Witnesses reported that troops opened fire when a group near the front of the crowd moved toward the site before its scheduled opening.
"The gunfire was indiscriminate," said Mohamed Abed, a father of two from the Bureij refugee camp.
Abed and fellow aid-seeker Aymed Sayyad recounted assisting two individuals wounded by gunfire. The GHF stated that the incident did not occur near their site as described. The Israeli military has not provided a comment on the event.
This incident adds to the growing number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 2,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,500 wounded at aid distribution points or along convoy routes used by the United Nations and other aid organizations. The ministry also reported an increase in malnutrition-related deaths, bringing the total to 289, including 115 children.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification recently declared a famine in Gaza City, warning that it could spread to other areas without a ceasefire or increased humanitarian aid. Israel disputes this assessment, stating that there is no famine in Gaza.
In the Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City, residents reported heavy explosions overnight as Israeli military operations intensified. Displaced resident Ossama Matter described neighborhoods being razed beyond recognition. Schoolteacher Salim Dhaher expressed concerns over the use of weaponized robots planting explosives, fearing it is part of a broader effort to forcibly remove Palestinians from northern Gaza.
The conflict began in October 2023 when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 ... approximately 1,200, mostly civilians. While most hostages have been released, around 50 remain in Gaza, ... about 20 believed to be alive. Hamas claims to have accepted a partial ceasefire deal through Arab mediators, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected all proposed solutions thus far.