Dozens Reported Killed in Gaza While Seeking Aid Amid Ongoing Conflict

At least 30 Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency. Hospital officials in Gaza City later said the death toll had risen to at least 48, with hundreds more wounded. The Israeli military stated it had fired warning shots after crowds gathered near aid trucks southwest of the Zikim crossing, but said it was "not aware of any casualties" resulting from its gunfire and that details of the incident were still under review.

A spokesperson for Gaza's civil defence told AFP that around 300 people were wounded in the incident. Separately, hospital sources reported six deaths near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid centre in Rafah, though the GHF denied any killings occurred at or near its sites on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces said a "gathering of suspects" who posed a threat to troops was told to move away before warning shots were fired at a distance from the distribution centre. The military added that an initial review suggested the reported casualty numbers did not match its information.

The UN human rights office reports that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food aid since late May. Gaza's health ministry says over 150 people, including 89 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began in October 2023. UN-backed food security experts warn that famine conditions are unfolding in Gaza, despite recent Israeli announcements of "tactical pauses" to facilitate aid delivery. Israel maintains it is not restricting aid, a claim challenged by some European countries and the UN.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a significant increase in aid, stating that the "trickle of aid" must become "an ocean" and urging that essential supplies flow "without obstruction." US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Israel to discuss the humanitarian situation, as Canada joins France and the UK in supporting recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, including thousands of children and women. Israel launched its military campaign following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.