DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces killed four aid seekers on Sunday as they traveled through a military zone south of Gaza City. This area has been regularly used by Palestinians trying to reach food distribution points and medical facilities during an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The deaths add to the increasing toll of Palestinians killed while seeking food amidst a deterioration in food security conditions in the Gaza Strip.
According to reports from Al-Awda Hospital and eyewitnesses, the four Palestinians were shot when troops opened fire on a crowd moving toward a distribution site managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the Netzarim corridor. The incident occurred hundreds of meters away from the actual site designated for aid distribution.
Witness Mohamed Abed, a father of two from the Bureij refugee camp, described the gunfire as “indiscriminate.” He recounted how many people fled in panic, while others were struck down by bullets. Another aid seeker, Aymed Sayyad, assisted in helping two individuals who were wounded, with one person sustaining injuries to both the shoulder and leg.
The Israeli military and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have not yet responded to requests for comment on this tragic event. The four deaths are part of a larger pattern in which U.N. convoys have faced overwhelming situations due to looting and desperate crowds. The ongoing violence has led to significant casualties, with more than 2,000 Palestinians reported killed and over 13,500 wounded while seeking aid at various distribution points.
Recent statements from Gaza’s Health Ministry indicate a staggering total of at least 62,622 Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict, with a significant number reportedly related to malnutrition. The ministry noted that malnutrition-related deaths have increased by eight, confirming a total of 281 fatalities due to nutritional deficiencies, which includes 115 children. The statistics also highlight that approximately half of the casualties are women and children.
Further exacerbating the food crisis, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification recently declared that famine conditions are now present in Gaza City, which could extend to other areas such as Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis within the coming weeks. Israel has contested claims of hunger in the region, labeling reports of starvation as “lies” propagated by Hamas.
The military operations have intensified particularly around Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp north of Gaza City. Residents reported experiencing heavy explosions and unrest as fears of a comprehensive military invasion grow. Teachers and locals have observed the widespread destruction of homes and the unsettling presence of military activities.
As Israel prepares for a possible offensive to seize Gaza City, there are concerns regarding the safety of the hundreds of thousands of civilians in the area. Many have faced repeated displacements and are skeptical of the alleged humanitarian zones that are supposedly safe. The ongoing conflict, which erupted following an attack on October 7, 2023, led to significant civilian casualties and abductions, with the emergence of armed conflicts still persisting.
The complexities of the situation continue to evolve, and as military operations intensify, the humanitarian situation for Palestinians worsens dramatically, with grave consequences for families and children affected by this ongoing war.
