At least 67 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces while waiting for UN aid trucks in northern Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that its 25-truck convoy faced “massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire” shortly after crossing from Israel. The Israeli military acknowledged it fired warning shots but disputed the number of casualties.
This tragic incident reflects a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Starvation is surging at alarming rates. The health ministry reported 18 deaths from famine within 24 hours, as civilians—mostly children—survive on water and salt. Outside Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, overwhelmed by casualties, a woman told BBC Arabic, “The whole population is dying.”
The Gaza Civil Defence updated the death toll to 93, citing Israeli attacks across the Strip, including in Rafah and Khan Younis. Eyewitness Qasem Abu Khater described scenes of “deadly overcrowding” and indiscriminate fire: “Israeli snipers shot at us like we were animals.”
The WFP condemned the violence, warning that 90,000 women and children urgently need malnutrition treatment. “Nearly one in three people aren’t eating for days,” the agency stated.
These killings follow a pattern. Since May, scores have died while trying to collect aid. Some deaths occurred near controversial US-Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, protected by private contractors, while others were near UN aid points.
Meanwhile, Israel has ordered evacuations from Deir al-Balah, raising fears of an imminent ground assault. The IDF claims Hamas may be holding hostages there, possibly deterring previous ground operations. Over two million Gazans have been displaced multiple times since the war began.
Pope Leo XIV condemned the “barbarity of the war” and called for an immediate ceasefire. Yet, Israeli operations persist—despite killing nearly 59,000 Gazans since October 2023.
The world watches as Gaza starves and bleeds, demanding accountability and urgent humanitarian relief.
