Israeli Fire Kills 93 Aid Seekers in Gaza, Civil Defence Reports

Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported a harrowing incident where Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid, resulting in the deaths of 93 people and wounding dozens more. This tragic event has once again brought the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza into sharp focus, raising urgent concerns about the safety of aid workers and civilians in the region.

The attacks occurred on multiple fronts across the war-torn territory. Eighty people were killed near Gaza City as a 25-truck convoy carrying food aid from Israel arrived in the north. Nine others were shot near an aid point in Rafah, where dozens had died just 24 hours earlier. Four more were killed near another aid site in Khan Yunis, according to a spokesperson for the civil defence agency, Mahmud Basal.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying. Qasem Abu Khater, 36, told AFP that he rushed to collect a bag of flour but instead found a desperate crowd of thousands. He described the situation as “deadly overcrowding and pushing,” with Israeli tanks firing randomly and snipers shooting “as if they were hunting animals in a forest.”

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has condemned the violence as “completely unacceptable,” stating that its convoy encountered “massive crowds of hungry civilians” who were subjected to gunfire. The WFP has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and greater protection for aid workers and civilians.

Israel’s military has disputed the reported death toll, claiming that soldiers fired warning shots “to remove an immediate threat posed to them.” However, the persistent pattern of civilian casualties at aid sites has raised serious concerns about the conduct of both sides in the conflict.

The UN has reported that nearly 800 aid-seekers have been killed since late May, with many of these deaths occurring along aid convoy routes. The agency has repeatedly called for safe passage for humanitarian aid and for an end to the violence that has left millions of Palestinians in dire straits.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Over two million people have been displaced, with many forced to live in overcrowded shelters or in the open. Essential services have collapsed, and the UN has warned that the remaining 12% of the Gaza Strip not under displacement orders is now the only place where civilians can survive.

The Israeli military has issued new instructions to its troops in response to the recent incidents, but critics argue these measures are insufficient to prevent further loss of life. The UN has also expressed deep concern over the recent withdrawal of the residency permit for the head of the UN OCHA office in Israel, Jonathan Whittall, who has repeatedly condemned the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

As the conflict enters its second year, the international community continues to call for a ceasefire and a resolution to the crisis. The Pope recently condemned the “barbarity” of the war and called for peace, following an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church. The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem visited the devastated territory in a rare move, underscoring the growing religious and humanitarian concerns.

The situation remains precarious, with both sides engaging in indirect talks for a potential ceasefire. However, the continued violence and displacement have left millions of Palestinians in a state of despair, with little hope for immediate relief.