Gaza/Geneva: Israeli military action claimed the lives of at least 44 Palestinians in Gaza on Friday, including civilians who were reportedly waiting for food assistance, according to local health officials. The violence comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning of a looming water catastrophe.
Health authorities in Hamas-governed Gaza reported that 25 people were killed near the central area of Netzarim, where civilians had gathered in hopes of receiving aid. The location is one of several points used by the U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) for distributing food, and is also utilized by UN agencies and other aid organizations.
The Israeli military said its forces fired warning shots after suspected militants approached within a crowd. A missile strike followed, targeting and killing those the military identified as threats. Acknowledging that civilians may have been harmed, the military stated it is reviewing the incident. GHF clarified that the strike did not occur at or near any of its official aid distribution centers.
Elsewhere across Gaza, at least 19 additional fatalities were reported from Israeli airstrikes, including 12 people killed in a residential home in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.
In Geneva, UNICEF raised the alarm over Gaza’s dire water situation, stating that a lack of fuel for water pumps and desalination facilities has created what amounts to a "man-made drought." Spokesperson James Elder warned that children could soon begin dying from thirst, as only 40% of the enclave’s water facilities remain operational.
The UN agency also noted a sharp rise—50%—in malnutrition cases among children under five between April and May, with over 500,000 people currently going hungry in Gaza.
Hamas accused Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinians seeking food, a claim Israel denied, alleging instead that Hamas diverts aid for its own purposes. Human rights groups and witnesses have disputed Israel’s assertions that force is only used in crowd control or self-defense, saying many of the attacks on aid seekers have been unprovoked and lacked warning.
While GHF defended its record, stating it had distributed nearly three million meals at three separate locations without incident since late May, UNICEF criticized the organization’s operations, arguing that the system forces civilians to enter dangerous areas to access food.
The International Committee of the Red Cross added that the majority of patients treated in its Gaza field hospital since GHF began distributions reported being injured while attempting to retrieve aid near distribution points.
The ongoing war, triggered by Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken, has since led to a devastating Israeli military campaign. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the conflict has resulted in nearly 55,700 Palestinian deaths and displaced most of the enclave’s 2 million residents. The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with hunger and disease spreading rapidly.
