At least 35 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces launched a series of strikes on Saturday—many of the victims were waiting for food at an aid distribution site, according to local health authorities.
The most deadly attack reportedly occurred near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution center, which is backed by the United States. Around 15 people were killed there, medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals confirmed, as civilians approached the center in hopes of receiving basic supplies.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May under a new system the United Nations has criticized for lacking neutrality and impartiality. Since then, over 270 people have died and more than 2,000 wounded in or near these food distribution zones, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Hamas accused Israel of using “hunger as a weapon of war,” calling the strikes on aid zones “mass death traps” for innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Israel has not commented on Saturday’s incidents at the time of reporting.
Later in the day, more bloodshed was reported when Israeli fire killed another 12 Palestinians waiting for aid along the northern coastal road, bringing the day’s total death toll to at least 35.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. With most of the population displaced and malnutrition spreading rapidly, many residents are forced to risk their lives just to access food.
The densely populated strip—home to more than 2 million people—has been under continuous bombardment since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. It remains the deadliest day in Israel’s history.
Since then, Israel’s military operations have reportedly claimed the lives of nearly 55,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom were civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The Israeli military also issued fresh evacuation orders in southern Gaza, telling residents of Khan Younis, Abassan, and Bani Suhaila to move west toward what they describe as a “humanitarian zone,” warning of impending military action against terror groups.
Despite ongoing negotiations involving the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, no progress has been made toward a lasting ceasefire. Both Israel and Hamas remain entrenched in their positions, each blaming the other for the breakdown of talks.
As violence continues and aid sites become battlegrounds, the question remains: Where can Gaza’s civilians go to find safety?
