Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 44 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured on Sunday after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of civilians waiting to receive humanitarian aid near Gaza City. The incident occurred in the northern part of the besieged enclave, where food and medical supplies remain desperately scarce.
Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defence agency, told AFP, “As of this moment, 44 people have been killed and dozens injured after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians waiting for aid.” The statement, given just hours after the attack, described the situation as a continuation of repeated assaults on vulnerable populations in Gaza, who are already suffering under catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the incident. International aid organizations and human rights observers have repeatedly warned about the dangers civilians face while seeking essential supplies, as aid deliveries remain intermittent and are often delayed by security checks or airstrikes.
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Hunger Crisis Deepens in Gaza
The northern Gaza Strip, including areas around Beit Lahia and Gaza City, has been the most critically affected by hunger in recent months. The ongoing Israeli military campaign has severely restricted access to food, water, and medical aid, triggering a famine-like crisis. Photos from Sunday show desperate civilians scrambling for packages of aid thrown into the streets, a grim reflection of the region’s collapse under blockade and bombardment.
Aid convoys are rare and heavily scrutinized. When they do arrive, thousands of displaced residents rush to the drop-off points, often facing stampedes, chaos, and the threat of violence. This latest attack is not the first time such aid-seeking gatherings have turned deadly. Similar incidents earlier this year sparked international outrage and calls for independent investigations.
The humanitarian catastrophe continues to draw condemnation from global leaders and human rights organizations, who accuse both sides of violating international law. However, civilians remain the primary victims, trapped in an unrelenting war with no safe passage or guaranteed access to food and medical services.
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International Condemnation Grows
In response to continued violence, including Sunday’s reported shooting, Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate end to the war and condemned the “barbarity” inflicted upon Gaza. His comments followed the killing of three people in a deadly Israeli strike on the Catholic Holy Family Church in Gaza earlier this week. “I once again ask for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” Pope Leo said during his address at the Vatican.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued a new evacuation order for Palestinians in central Gaza, warning of an expanded military campaign targeting Hamas militants in Deir el-Balah, an area previously untouched by ground operations. Residents were told to flee south toward the coastal al-Mawasi area “for their safety,” according to Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee.
As operations intensify and civilian casualties mount, pressure is growing on global powers to intervene. Calls for a ceasefire, accountability, and humanitarian corridors have so far failed to translate into concrete action, leaving millions of Palestinians in Gaza in a state of limbo.
The Gaza civil defence says Israeli forces kill 44 people waiting for aid, and this tragic incident adds to the long list of alleged war crimes and atrocities committed during the ongoing conflict. With no end in sight, the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population continues to escalate.
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