30 killed in Gaza food queue by Israeli shelling
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies as Israeli Forces Target Aid Sites
Fatalities in Gaza rose sharply after Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian supplies north of Gaza City. At least 30 people were killed and 300 wounded, according to the civil‑defence agency’s spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal. The incident took place around the Zikim crossing, a key entry point for aid trucks.
Reactions from Gaza’s Health Facilities
- Al‑Shifa Hospital’s director, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, confirmed the hospital received 35 bodies from the shooting.
- Earlier, four other incidents had already claimed twelve Palestinian lives, including three within aid distribution zones.
Israel’s Official Statements
While the military denied commenting on the Zikim shooting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office alleged that Hamas militants were “stealing” food from the latest deliveries. Media restrictions in Gaza prevent independent verification of casualty figures.
UN Humanitarian Update
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that even after four days of Israel’s “tactical pauses,” Palestinians were still succumbing to hunger and malnutrition. OCHA stressed that the pauses were insufficient to satisfy the region’s “desperate, hungry people.”
International Aid Delivery Efforts
- Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and France have conducted air‑drops of food and plan to deliver 40 tonnes of aid.
- Despite these attempts, OCHA warned that the conditions for delivering aid are far from sufficient to meet Gaza’s enormous needs.
Ceasefire Negotiations on Hold
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to visit Israel to discuss ceasefire options, but discussions broke down last week after Israel and the United States withdrew their delegations from Doha. Netanyahu announced that Israel and the United States were considering alternative options to bring our hostages home. Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, urged Hamas to disarm and end its rule over Gaza.
Key Takeaway
While Israel has observed daytime pauses to facilitate aid distribution, the UN reports that these pauses are insufficient to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Gaza’s 2‑million‑plus inhabitants, who now face an unfolding famine.
