Israel Kills Over 300 Palestinians in 48 Hours as Aid Crisis Deepens in Gaza
More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the past 48 hours, according to a statement by the Gaza Government Media Office, which described the attacks as “26 bloody massacres” carried out by Israeli forces. The staggering death toll includes at least 73 people killed since dawn on Thursday, many of whom were desperate civilians attempting to access aid at sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Among the dead are 33 people gunned down near GHF aid sites, which are backed by both Israel and the United States. According to eyewitness accounts, Israeli forces opened fire without warning as hungry Palestinians gathered in search of food. Thirteen people were also killed when Israeli forces targeted a tent shelter in al-Mawasi, and 11 others lost their lives in an attack on the Mostafa Hafez school, where hundreds of displaced people had sought refuge.
Medical personnel and witnesses told Al Jazeera that the attacks primarily targeted civilians sheltering in displacement centres, homes, markets, and rest areas, all of which were packed with people fleeing the war. One rest stop known as “al-Baqa” was specifically mentioned as being hit. The Gaza Media Office condemned the attacks, stating Israel had “intentionally targeted starving civilians.”
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Aid Turns Deadly: Survivors Say There Was “No Warning”
In Deir al-Balah, Al Jazeera’s correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported scenes of devastation near the GHF aid distribution centres. Survivors described long waits for basic food items, only to be met with sudden gunfire.
“They told me there was no warning, no indication—just bullets tearing through the crowd,” said Azzoum. “People ran for their lives as gunfire rang out. Emergency services couldn’t reach the victims because of the ongoing shooting.” His reports point to a total collapse of the humanitarian landscape in Gaza, where even aid distribution has become a life-threatening ordeal.
Since the GHF began its operations in late May, over 600 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access aid, and nearly 4,000 others wounded. Despite being framed as a humanitarian project, the GHF has come under increasing scrutiny. A coalition of over 130 humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International, demanded the immediate shutdown of the GHF, citing its role in facilitating violence against civilians.
“These sites have become death traps,” read a joint statement from the NGOs. “Israeli forces and affiliated security personnel routinely open fire on civilians simply trying to access food.”
US Contractors Accused of Using Live Fire, Grenades at Aid Sites
Further outrage has erupted over reports that US contractors guarding GHF sites have used live ammunition and stun grenades on crowds of Palestinians. In a shocking revelation, two American contractors told the Associated Press that they were disturbed by the tactics used, describing the hired guards as “unqualified, unvetted, and heavily armed.”
The contractors, who requested anonymity, said security teams often operated with little oversight and acted as though they had “open license” to engage however they wanted. Videos shared with AP show armed guards firing into crowds and throwing grenades as people screamed and ran for cover.
Despite international outcry, both the Israeli government and GHF administration have refused to halt operations or reform their protocols. Instead, military actions have intensified even as the humanitarian situation in Gaza reaches catastrophic levels.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s war on Gaza has now killed at least 56,647 Palestinians and wounded 134,105. These numbers are expected to rise as strikes continue unabated. By contrast, Israel reported 1,139 deaths during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks and over 200 captives taken in that initial assault.
With aid turning deadly and hospitals overwhelmed, Gaza’s civilians are facing not just war but what many are calling a systematic humanitarian collapse. The international community is under growing pressure to respond—not just with statements, but with action to end the killing of civilians and secure safe humanitarian corridors.
