Gaza: At least 92 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Thursday as Israeli forces intensified attacks on civilians, including those waiting for food and basic supplies. Among the dead, 16 people were shot while queuing for humanitarian aid near the Netzarim Corridor, while 13 others were killed as they attempted to charge their devices at a makeshift power point in the Al Shati Refugee Camp—a camp that has endured over 18 months without electricity. These latest killings come as hunger and desperation push Gazans into increasingly dangerous conditions in their daily search for survival.
Witnesses described scenes of terror as Israeli forces opened fire overnight near food aid points. Bassam Abu Shaar, speaking to AFP from the site near Shuhada Junction, said gunfire from tanks, aircraft, and quadcopters erupted without warning. “We couldn’t help them or even escape ourselves,” he said, describing how tightly packed the crowds were—making flight from the attack nearly impossible. These areas, supposedly designated for aid, have now become some of the most dangerous places to be in Gaza.
Attacks on aid-seekers have become tragically common. For weeks, starving Palestinians have gathered near delivery sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.- and Israeli-backed entity that the United Nations has condemned for turning aid into a tool of war. The UN has accused Israel of the "weaponisation" of humanitarian relief, where even food lines are no longer safe havens. In addition, an Israeli drone strike on a tent in the Al Shati Camp claimed 13 lives, and further airstrikes on homes in Jabalia led to more civilian deaths and injuries.
Israeli officials claimed their troops had responded to "suspects" approaching in a threatening manner and that warning shots were fired. However, no substantial evidence has been provided.
Over the last 24 hours, 69 bodies and more than 220 wounded were brought to hospitals, most of which are barely functioning under the blockade. Since October 2023, the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 55,706 with more than 130,000 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Nearly the entire population of over two million is now food-insecure, with many risking death daily just to access sacks of flour or bottles of water.
As the wider world shifts its attention toward the Israel-Iran conflict, those trapped in Gaza fear they are being forgotten. The desperation is palpable.
