Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent hours as they attempted to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, according to local hospitals. Health officials say at least 25 people were killed near a food convoy in the Netzarim corridor, an Israeli-controlled military zone.
Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals in Gaza City reported receiving the bodies and treating dozens of wounded civilians. Some were reportedly hit by Israeli gunfire, while others were crushed in the chaos around aid trucks. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency accused Israeli troops of opening fire, though Israel’s military said warning shots were fired as people approached soldiers.
Another deadly incident occurred in Rafah, where 14 people were killed near a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid system backed by the US and Israel. A hospital in Khan Younis confirmed the deaths, adding to growing concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The GHF claims its aid centres handed out more than 43,000 food parcels on Wednesday “without incident,” yet daily violence near its sites paints a different picture. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 223 Palestinians have died in the past two weeks alone while trying to collect aid 57 of them on Wednesday.
Eyewitness videos shared by Israeli activist Alon Lee-Green showed chaotic scenes as starving civilians rushed through makeshift fences and mounds of earth at a GHF centre in western Rafah. The footage, verified by BBC, highlights the desperation among civilians, many of whom have gone days without food.
Moataz Harara, head of emergency at Al-Shifa Hospital, said many of the wounded arrived with gunshot wounds to their abdomen and pelvis. Civil Defence officials claimed Israeli tanks and drones were involved in firing on the crowd. The IDF said it was reviewing reports of casualties but maintained that the area had been designated a combat zone.
In addition to Israeli fire, Palestinian residents say local gunmen have also attacked aid convoys, either as looters or groups aligned with different factions. One man, visibly distressed, said, “Everyone is attacking us for a bag of flour—soldiers, gangs, even our own people.”
The UN has criticized the GHF’s independent aid distribution system, refusing to cooperate and citing violations of humanitarian principles. UN agencies report that aid delivery has been hampered by Israeli military activity and delays in granting access for convoys.
The World Food Programme said it managed to send 59 trucks carrying 930 tonnes of flour into northern Gaza earlier this week, but that the convoy was intercepted by desperate civilians before reaching its destination.
A GHF spokesman acknowledged the scale of the crisis, saying, “There is not yet enough food to feed everyone in need in Gaza. More aid is urgently required to restore calm and meet demand in this volatile environment.”
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Since then, the Gaza health ministry reports that over 55,000 people have been killed amid ongoing bombardment, blockades, and humanitarian collapse.
