Gaza: Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for food aid in central Gaza on Thursday, wounding at least 20 people, according to reports from the Gaza Health Ministry.
The incident took place at a distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization whose activities are approved by Israel. Despite this approval, the aid point in Khan Younis turned into a scene of panic and bloodshed, reflecting the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation as Israel’s military offensive continues across the besieged Strip.
The shooting occurred on May 29, 2025, amid growing chaos at aid centers where thousands gather daily in hopes of securing basic necessities. In addition to the 20 wounded at the food center, at least 18 more Palestinians were reported killed in other Israeli military operations throughout the Strip that same day. Eyewitness accounts, supported by imagery captured by the Associated Press, show injured civilians being carried away from the scene in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, political developments offer little immediate relief. Hamas is currently reviewing a new ceasefire proposal that the United States claims has already been accepted by Israel. However, critics warn the deal, in its current form, may do little to stop the killing. Health officials in Gaza have also condemned Israel's recent order to shut down al-Awda Hospital, calling it a deliberate assault on a healthcare system already on the brink of total collapse after months of bombings.
Since October 2023, Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 54,249 people and wounded more than 123,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Government Media Office provides an even higher death toll—over 61,700—citing thousands still buried under the rubble and presumed dead. The war began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel killed approximately 1,139 people and took over 200 hostages. Since then, the cycle of violence has escalated dramatically, leaving Gaza’s infrastructure shattered and its population facing famine, displacement, and mass casualties.
