OVER 90 PALESTINIANS SEEKING AID KILLED BY ISRAELI ARMY, SAYS GAZA AGENCY
In one of the deadliest incidents in recent weeks, Gaza’s Government Media Office has accused the Israeli military of killing over 90 Palestinians who were attempting to access humanitarian aid in the northern part of the besieged enclave. The victims, according to local officials and eyewitnesses, had gathered near a food distribution point in Gaza City when Israeli forces opened fire.
The massacre, as described by the Hamas-run media office, occurred late on Sunday evening. Hundreds of people, many of them displaced from other parts of Gaza, had assembled near an aid convoy, hoping to receive flour, water, and basic medical supplies. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and panic after gunfire erupted. Many were reportedly shot while attempting to approach the trucks, while others were crushed in the stampede that followed.
Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by months of conflict, struggled to cope with the influx of wounded. Medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital, one of the few facilities still operating in the north, said dozens of victims arrived with gunshot wounds, while others were dead on arrival. Video footage from the scene showed bodies lying on the ground, blood-stained aid sacks scattered nearby.
The Israeli military has not yet issued a detailed statement on the specific incident but claimed that in some recent aid distribution scenarios, armed militants have used civilian gatherings as cover, prompting soldiers to open fire in self-defense. However, human rights organizations and independent observers have expressed grave concern over the high civilian death toll and are demanding a transparent international investigation.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was “deeply alarmed” by reports of mass casualties at aid sites, stressing the need to ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief. “Civilians seeking food and aid must never be targeted. This is a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” a spokesperson said.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, now in its tenth month, has devastated much of the Gaza Strip, leaving over 38,000 people dead according to Gaza’s health authorities, the majority of them women and children. The humanitarian situation has become increasingly dire, with widespread hunger, disease, and displacement affecting the entire population of the enclave.
Israel has been under growing international pressure to facilitate more humanitarian access to Gaza. While some aid convoys have been permitted to enter via border crossings with Egypt and Israel, they are often subject to intense scrutiny, delays, and restrictions. Northern Gaza, where the latest killings occurred, has been particularly difficult to reach due to ongoing Israeli military operations and damaged infrastructure.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire and independent investigation have intensified. The European Union, several Arab states, and the United Nations have condemned the reported killings, urging Israel to exercise restraint and adhere to international law. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has called on the International Criminal Court to intervene, accusing Israel of committing war crimes.