The Gaza Strip is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with at least 33 Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire and strikes on Wednesday, including 11 people seeking aid as death toll keep mounting.
The Hamas-run civil defense agency reported that Israeli forces opened fire and launched shells at thousands queuing for food supplies on the main Salah al-Din Road. In response, the Israeli military claimed troops in the Nuseirat area fired warning shots after a group approached them in a threatening manner.
The death toll in Gaza has been staggering, with over 55,637 people killed since the Israeli military launched its campaign in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict has also led to significant infrastructure damage, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. According to reports, nearly 400 people have been killed while trying to access aid since May 26, when the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation opened its distribution centers.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the 9,000 tonnes of food aid dispatched over the past four weeks is a “tiny fraction” of what’s needed in Gaza. Desperate crowds are gathering along transport routes, hoping to intercept aid shipments. The WFP emphasizes that only a massive scale-up in food distributions can stabilize the situation and rebuild trust within communities. Umm Fida Masoud, a Gaza resident, shared the tragic story of her son, who was injured while trying to get flour, saying, “He went to bring a bag of flour and came back [injured] in a bag.”
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, condemned the current aid system as “lame, medieval and lethal,” stating, “Inviting starving people to their death is a war crime. Those responsible for this system must be held accountable.” This is a stark reminder of the urgent need for humanitarian intervention and the importance of upholding humanitarian principles in conflict zones.
Key Developments:
- Death Toll: At least 55,637 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
- Aid Shortages: The WFP has dispatched only a fraction of the needed aid, with 9,000 tonnes of food aid sent over the past four weeks.
- Infrastructure Damage: The conflict has caused significant damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
- International Response: The UNRWA has condemned the current aid system, calling for accountability and an end to the violence.