Medical personnel in Gaza have reported that Israeli forces have claimed the lives of 62 Palestinians, primarily those seeking assistance, since the early hours of Saturday. Among the deceased are 38 individuals who were attempting to obtain aid at distribution sites managed by the contentious Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the U.S. and Israel. These incidents represent the latest fatalities reported near these distribution centers, despite Israel’s recent decision to introduce “tactical pauses” in certain areas to facilitate humanitarian aid access for Palestinians. Israel began these temporary pauses in its military actions on July 27.
Nonetheless, the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory stated on Friday that 105 Palestinians were killed while seeking sustenance on Wednesday and Thursday alone. Cumulatively, at least 1,373 Palestinians have died while attempting to access aid, according to the human rights office. Moreover, Gaza Health Ministry data reveals that 169 Palestinians, including 93 children, have succumbed to starvation or malnutrition since the commencement of Israel’s military actions in October 2023. There have been reports from Palestinians in the region of deliberate firing by Israeli soldiers and privately hired American security personnel at aid seekers near distribution locations.
Facing increasing global disapproval over the situation in Gaza, Israel has permitted the delivery of aid by air from nations such as Jordan, the UAE, Egypt, Spain, Germany, and France. However, organizations like the UN aid agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, have criticized these efforts as inadequate and urged Israel to allow unrestricted aid transportation via land routes. Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that a mere 36 aid trucks entered the region on Saturday, which is far below the 600-truck requirement they cited as necessary for humanitarian relief. In Khan Younis, the Palestine Red Crescent Society disclosed that an Israeli attack on its headquarters led to the death of one of its staff members and injured three others. “An Israeli attack on the PRCS headquarters in Khan Younis resulted in one staff member killed and three injured, causing a fire on the building’s first floor,” announced PRCS on social media.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza earlier on Saturday that the conditions have not improved despite recent aid deliveries. “Markets are nearly devoid of food, and whatever is available is extremely costly, forcing Palestinians to risk their well-being to obtain goods,” Khoudary observed. Philippe Lazzarini, chief of UNRWA, stated on Saturday that Gaza is experiencing a famine profoundly influenced by efforts to replace the UN-led aid system with the politically motivated GHF. “Marginalizing and undermining UNRWA are not about preventing aid diversion to militant groups; it is a strategy to collectively pressure and penalize Palestinians in Gaza,” Lazzarini commented on social media. UNICEF has issued a warning that Gaza’s malnutrition levels have reached famine thresholds, with 320,000 young children facing acute malnutrition. “The current decisions will dictate whether tens of thousands of children survive or perish,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s deputy executive director for humanitarian action and supply, following his visit to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
