Gaza Conflict Intensifies: Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens

At least five people have been killed and more than 70 wounded in the latest incident of Israeli troops opening fire on hungry Palestinians seeking aid in south Gaza. According to reports, Israeli forces fired on Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site west of Rafah in southern Gaza. A medical source at al-Awda Hospital confirmed that four Palestinians were killed and 70 injured in the incident in the escalating conflict.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has announced that it will reopen two of its aid points today after distributing no food aid in Gaza yesterday. Since May 27, more than 100 people have been killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid at its locations. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike killed five Palestinians, including two girls, in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, which Israel had previously designated as a “safe zone.”

Elia Ayoub, writer and researcher on Israel-Palestine, believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the war as an excuse, stating, “Hamas is already the weakest it’s ever been, and there’s nothing they can do that is remotely comparable to what Israel possesses… There’s ample evidence by now that the only reason this genocide is ongoing is because Netanyahu wants it to continue. It’s clearly just an excuse to keep the war going.”

In a separate development, thousand bys of volunteers in Tunisia are set to embark on a land convoy towards the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, demanding entrance and bringing much-needed aid. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the 12 activists on board the Madleen vessel, which is attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and remains off the coast of Egypt.

The conflict continues to escalate, with Israeli forces recovering the body of Natthapong Pintawho, a Thai national taken captive during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and held in Gaza. As the situation unfolds, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, with the territory facing severe shortages of food and medical supplies.