Renewed Violence in Gaza: 23 Palestinians Killed Near Aid Distribution Site

Recent incidents near aid distribution sites in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 23 Palestinians, raising serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis amid ongoing violence.

Israeli forces have reportedly opened fire on crowds gathered near an aid distribution site in central Gaza, leading to the death of 23 Palestinians, according to witnesses and local medics. The tragic event unfolded close to a distribution center managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has recently taken over aid distribution efforts in the region, previously managed by the UN.

Eyewitness accounts detail that military tanks and drones targeted thousands of individuals waiting for assistance at the site. Reports from al-Awda hospital indicate that 23 bodies and over 100 injured patients were received following the shooting. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these specific incidents. The Hamas-controlled health ministry has highlighted that over 400 Palestinians have lost their lives in similar confrontations since late May.

The escalation coincides with the GHF’s operational control over aid distribution, an attempt by Israel to circumvent the UN’s role after months of stringent blockades that left Gaza teetering on the brink of famine. In many of these tragic occurrences, eyewitnesses assert that Israeli troops initiated fire, though there have also been claims regarding local armed groups.

Just days earlier, at least 12 more Palestinians were killed while they awaited necessary supplies. The GHF has denied any violent incidents occurring at their distribution site, while the Israeli military indicated that warning shots were fired in response to supposed suspicious activity near their forces.

Further complicating the situation, recent Israeli airstrikes have resulted in additional fatalities, with one reported attack claiming the lives of 11 Palestinians in the al-Ma'sar area. Local civil defense officials have lamented a surge in airstrike casualties, numbering at least 77 deaths, primarily targeting the Shati neighborhood of Gaza City.

These aggressive military actions come in retaliation to an earlier attack by Hamas on southern Israel—one that had fatal consequences for approximately 1,200 Israelis, alongside the taking of 251 hostages. The ongoing conflict has seen an alarming rise in casualty numbers, with reports indicating at least 55,706 deaths in Gaza since the conflict escalated, including over 15,000 children, according to the Hamas health ministry.