Over 50 Killed While Seeking Food in Gaza as Hunger Crisis Escalates — Global Reactions Intensify
A deadly incident near Gaza’s Zikim crossing left at least 54 Palestinians dead and more than 400 injured on Wednesday as they waited desperately for food. The casualties were transported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City using carts due to the lack of ambulances and resources.
According to Gaza’s Civil Defence authority, which is run by Hamas, Israeli troops opened fire on civilians gathered near humanitarian aid trucks. The Israeli military denied this, claiming they only fired "warning shots" and reported no confirmed casualties from their side.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, arrived in Israel to hold high-level talks following stalled ceasefire negotiations. His itinerary includes a visit to controversial aid centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by the US and Israel. The GHF's role has sparked global debate due to alleged ties with military zones and denial of cooperation from the UN.
The crisis comes amid worsening famine conditions. Gaza’s health ministry reported seven more deaths from malnutrition, raising the total to 154. The UN has declared that a "worst-case famine scenario" is unfolding, warning that current aid flows are grossly insufficient.
Despite Israeli claims that it allows humanitarian access, aid groups say that the so-called “tactical pauses” are not enough to deliver life-saving assistance. Starving civilians have been seen looting aid trucks due to lack of organized distribution.
In southern Gaza, at least 21 more people reportedly died while trying to collect food near Morag, and six were killed near a GHF center in Rafah. The IDF claimed these individuals were "suspicious gatherings" and were warned before troops fired from hundreds of meters away.
According to the UN, over 1,050 Palestinians have been killed trying to access food aid since GHF began operations in late May. More than 766 of them reportedly died near GHF's private contractor-run centers, which are located inside Israeli-controlled zones.
The Israeli government blames Hamas for provoking unrest, while the GHF disputes UN figures, claiming it has distributed nearly 100 million meals and denying fatalities near its aid points. However, the UN has refused to coordinate with the GHF, citing safety concerns and violations of humanitarian neutrality.
The Gaza war, now in its 10th month, was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 60,138 deaths, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly.