Israeli troops have killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded hundreds in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, as they sought aid, according to reports. The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, when Israeli soldiers fired at desperate crowds of aid seekers gathered along the main eastern road in Khan Younis, using tank shells, machine guns, and drones. This brings the total number of Palestinians killed in attacks across the besieged enclave to 89 since dawn.
The death toll is expected to rise, with many injured in critical condition at Nasser Hospital, where casualties are being treated. Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said, “Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to a large number of martyrs and wounded.” The crowd had assembled in hope of receiving flour.
This incident marks the deadliest day around the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, surpassing Monday’s toll of 38 deaths, mostly in the Rafah area south of Khan Younis. According to reports, over 300 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded while trying to collect aid from the GHF since it launched operations in Gaza on May 26.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for accountability after the latest GHF site killings. His deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, stated, “The Secretary-General condemns the loss of lives and injuries of civilians in Gaza, where once again being shot at while seeking food… It is unacceptable.” Haq added that, as of yesterday, 338 people had been killed and more than 2,800 injured while trying to access food near distribution sites.
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, describing the event as a “massacre.” Saeed Abu Liba, 38, told Al Jazeera, “Dozens of civilians, including children, were killed, and no one could help or save lives.” Yousef Nofal said he saw many people lying motionless and bleeding on the ground, with soldiers continuing to fire as people fled. Mohammed Abu Qeshqa, who survived the attack, said, “I survived by a miracle,” mentioning both heavy gunfire and tank shelling.
Medical sources at Nasser Hospital reported that many victims were “unidentifiable” due to being “shredded to pieces” in the attack. The GHF began distributing food aid in Gaza at the end of May after Israel partially lifted a nearly three-month total blockade on food, medicines, and other essential items.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has pleaded for fuel to be allowed into Gaza to keep its few functioning hospitals running. Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, said, “For over 100 days, no fuel has entered Gaza and attempts to retrieve stocks from evacuation zones have been denied.” Currently, only 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are minimally to partially functional, with around 1,500 beds available, about 45% fewer than before Israel’s war on Gaza began.