Israel Strikes Gaza, Causing Casualties as Famine Worsens Due to Limited Aid Availability
Israeli gunfire and airstrikes resulted in the deaths of over 50 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, including individuals who were reportedly waiting for aid. Local health officials indicated that this ongoing violence has heightened international criticism of Israel’s strategy of “drip-feeding” aid into the region, which continues to have deadly consequences. Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, reported that at least 61 Palestinians were killed over the weekend. Among them were people waiting in line for aid at the Zikim crossing and several starving children.
The violence was particularly evident in the Zikim area, where many were killed while awaiting aid trucks. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to requests for comment regarding the recent violence, these latest killings occurred amid accusations that Israel’s aid distribution practices have led to malnutrition and starvation within Gaza. Although the IDF claims to have allowed an average of 70 aid trucks per day since May, humanitarian organizations argue that hundreds more are necessary to adequately support the population. On Saturday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced a “humanitarian pause” to facilitate the delivery of aid.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported five deaths due to malnutrition within the past 24 hours, bringing the total to at least 127 hunger-related deaths since October 7, 2023. Earlier this week, 25 countries, including several European nations, issued a joint call for an immediate ceasefire. They condemned the recent killings of Palestinians seeking aid as “horrific,” estimating the total loss of life to be over 800. In response, Israel accused Hamas of hindering aid distribution, while a UN spokesperson criticized Israel for lacking willingness to enable effective aid operations.
Amid the ongoing crisis, the IDF maintains that humanitarian aid is being manipulated by Hamas, complicating the delivery of essential supplies to those in need.