In a devastating turn of events in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, at least 59 Palestinians were killed and over 220 others injured when Israeli tanks opened fire on a crowd desperately waiting for food aid. Eyewitness accounts and medics confirm this is one of the deadliest aid-related incidents since the Gaza conflict reignited in October 2023.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the horrific aftermath — mangled bodies lying in the streets as chaos unfolds. The Israeli military has admitted to firing in the area but claims the incident is under investigation. A military spokesperson stated that their forces responded to a gathering near an aid distribution truck and expressed regret for any harm caused to civilians.
According to Alaa, an eyewitness at the overwhelmed Nasser Hospital, the attack was sudden and unprovoked:
“They told us to move forward. Suddenly, tank shells fell. People were torn apart just trying to get food for their kids.”
Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 397 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,000 injured in aid-related incidents since late May, as people attempt to access humanitarian assistance amid extreme food shortages. The majority of victims are civilians, including women and children.
Tuesday’s attack is part of a disturbing pattern. Over the past three weeks, nearly daily fatalities have been recorded at food distribution points. Aid is being funneled through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a U.S.- and Israeli-supported initiative that has taken over food distribution at a few guarded locations. Critics, including the United Nations, argue that the GHF system is inadequate, violates neutrality principles, and fails to safely deliver aid to those who need it most.
Despite GHF’s claim that it has distributed over three million meals without incident, ground realities tell a different story. The recent strike in Khan Younis directly contradicts those assurances and highlights the growing humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
The war began in October 2023, following a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s military response has been relentless, with nearly 55,000 Palestinians killed and almost 2.3 million people displaced as of June 2025, creating a full-blown hunger crisis.
To make matters worse, Gaza’s civilians are now caught in the crossfire of a larger regional conflict, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate. Some residents have expressed a grim sense of vindication after seeing Israeli cities damaged by Iranian missile strikes, remarking that the fear now being felt in Israel mirrors what Palestinians have endured for nearly two years.
As the conflict rages on, the international community remains deeply divided — and the people of Gaza continue to pay the ultimate price.
