Gaza: Israeli fire and air strikes have killed at least 79 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, with many casualties occurring near an aid distribution site operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to local health authorities. Among those killed were civilians desperately seeking food after weeks of a harsh blockade and ongoing military bombardment have pushed the territory to the brink of famine. Medics reported that at least 15 people died on Saturday near the GHF distribution site close to the Netzarim Corridor, while others were killed in separate attacks across the besieged enclave.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began its operations in late May under US and Israeli backing, has faced severe criticism from humanitarian organizations for being neither impartial nor neutral. Despite the foundation’s closure on Saturday, thousands of Palestinians gathered near aid hubs due to severe shortages of food and medical supplies. Since the blockade began on March 2, the Israeli military has imposed an 11-week humanitarian siege cutting off vital aid, allowing only minimal supplies to enter Gaza after international pressure.
The situation has created an atmosphere where Palestinians view aid distribution centers as “execution sites,” forced by desperation to risk their lives to access help. The United Nations and rights groups have condemned the new aid system, which replaces the UN-run network with one controlled by Israel and the US, accusing it of militarizing humanitarian assistance by controlling access and forcing Palestinians to undertake dangerous journeys. The UN also rejects claims that Hamas diverts aid, warning that the system is insufficient to meet the escalating needs of Gaza’s population.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military ordered residents in southern Gaza, including Khan Younis and surrounding towns, to evacuate their homes and move west towards designated humanitarian zones as it prepares to intensify operations against “terror organizations.” According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 80% of Gaza is now within militarized zones or areas under forced displacement orders. Nearly 665,000 people have been displaced since February, adding to the hardships of Gaza’s more than two million inhabitants.
The ongoing conflict has killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and devastated Gaza’s infrastructure. Despite international mediation efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, neither Israel nor Hamas has agreed to a permanent ceasefire or a lasting resolution. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as the blockade and violence persist, leaving Gaza’s population in urgent need of aid and protection.
