ISRAELI TROOPS KILL MANY AT AID SITE IN NORTHERN GAZA WHILE UN WARNS OF DESPERATION
Israeli forces have been accused of killing dozens of Palestinians at an aid distribution site in northern Gaza, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 70–90 people were killed and scores wounded when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds gathered to receive desperately needed food and supplies. Witnesses reported that thousands of civilians had flocked to the site after hearing that aid trucks were arriving, with many of them starving and malnourished after months of siege.
The Israeli military claimed that its forces fired warning shots after crowds approached what it described as a restricted security zone and said militants may have been present among civilians. Palestinian officials, however, rejected the explanation, accusing Israel of targeting unarmed people who were simply trying to survive. Videos from the scene showed chaos as people scrambled for safety, with bodies lying near bags of flour and humanitarian packages.
The incident comes amid a severe breakdown in aid delivery across Gaza. The United Nations and other agencies have repeatedly warned that the region is on the brink of famine. Supplies entering the enclave are far below what is needed, and many residents in the north have resorted to eating animal feed and contaminated water. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the shooting underscores the “desperation and danger” facing civilians as they try to access limited food.
This is not the first time aid-seeking crowds have been caught in violence. Similar incidents in recent months have left hundreds dead as Israel enforces strict controls on humanitarian corridors. The pattern has raised questions about the safety of aid operations and whether civilians can be protected under current arrangements. Humanitarian groups say the conditions make it almost impossible to distribute food without risking mass casualties.
The United Nations has urged Israel to guarantee safe passage for aid and to open more routes to northern Gaza, where malnutrition is most severe. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have reported alarming levels of child starvation, warning that thousands of children could die if access does not improve immediately. Doctors in makeshift clinics say they are treating emaciated infants and adults suffering from severe dehydration.
International reactions have been swift. Several governments, including members of the European Union, have called for an independent investigation into the shooting. Human rights organizations argue that even if militants were present, firing into crowds of hungry civilians violates international humanitarian law. Calls are growing for the establishment of a neutral, internationally supervised aid distribution system to prevent further bloodshed.
For residents of northern Gaza, the tragedy has deepened the sense of hopelessness. Survivors told reporters that they risked their lives for a small bag of flour to feed their families. “We are starving, and now they kill us while we try to eat,” one man said.
The UN has warned that without a dramatic increase in humanitarian access, Gaza faces a catastrophic famine within weeks. The latest killings have turned what should have been a lifeline into yet another symbol of the enclave’s suffering, underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire and a coordinated international response.