Dozens of Palestinians Killed While Seeking Food Aid in Gaza Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

At least 325 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access food aid in Gaza over the past week, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. This figure includes 24 individuals killed on Saturday in various parts of the territory, as reported by health officials and local morgues.

These fatalities occur amid a worsening starvation crisis in Gaza, despite Israeli assurances of humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid delivery. The Israeli military stated that its troops have only fired warning shots in some incidents, including one on Wednesday where over 90 people seeking aid were killed while trying to retrieve sacks of flour from trucks near a border area.

International condemnation has grown over Israel's aid restrictions. U.N.-backed experts on hunger report that a famine is currently unfolding in Gaza. Although Israel has recently permitted air drops of aid and increased the number of trucks entering Gaza, aid agencies assert that these measures are insufficient. The U.N. World Food Program indicates that nearly all food supplies have been looted from trucks by armed gangs and desperate crowds before reaching distribution warehouses.

In response to the crisis, President Trump dispatched two U.S. officials to Gaza on Friday to visit a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization funded by the U.S. and overseen by Israel. During a ceasefire earlier this year, United Nations agencies were able to safely deliver aid until Israel assumed full control of Gaza's border with Egypt, a key entry point for assistance.

Israel maintains that its aid restrictions aim to pressure Hamas and prevent its fighters from benefiting from the supplies. However, international aid groups and U.N. agencies have criticized these restrictions as collective punishment, noting that aid is being looted by armed gangs, some of whom Israel has allegedly supported to undermine Hamas.

Health officials in Gaza reported seven additional deaths from malnutrition-related causes within the last 24 hours, including a child. Aid airdrops have continued, with several European nations joining a Jordanian-led coalition coordinating these deliveries. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, highlighted the inefficiency of airdrops compared to truck deliveries, stating that if there is political will to allow airdrops, there should be similar political will to open road crossings.

The Israeli military has not immediately commented on the recent incidents near aid locations in Gaza. However, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli Army's chief of staff, warned that combat will continue without rest, as will pressure on Hamas if hostages taken in the group's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel are not released.

In Tel Aviv, families of hostages still held in Gaza protested, urging the Israeli government to intensify efforts for a ceasefire to secure their loved ones' release. Some family members met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who indicated that President Trump intends to seek a comprehensive hostage deal involving Hamas agreeing to disarm and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committing to ending the war in Gaza. Both Hamas and Netanyahu have previously rejected these terms in negotiations.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Jewish organization has begun providing financial assistance to Christians in Gaza. The American Jewish Committee is donating $25,000 for the restoration of Holy Family Catholic Church, one of two churches in the enclave, with funds managed by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The church was recently damaged by Israeli strikes that hit the building, where Christian Palestinians have sought refuge during the conflict.

This donation comes as more Jewish leaders in the U.S., along with dozens of Democratic senators, call for a ceasefire in Gaza.