At least eleven Palestinians were killed on Tuesday morning after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on a crowd waiting for food in central Gaza, according to civil defence officials. The incident adds to a growing number of fatal encounters between civilians and the Israeli military at food distribution points, with more than 100 Palestinians killed in recent days under similar circumstances. The Israeli military said it was “looking into” the reports, as witnesses described scenes of desperation and chaos.
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Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence, stated that shelling and gunfire were directed at thousands queuing for aid. A further 19 people were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes on homes and a shelter for displaced persons. The situation has become increasingly dire since Israel imposed a severe blockade in March and April, leaving Gaza’s 2.3 million residents facing a “critical risk of famine,” according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Aid deliveries remain highly restricted. Although the blockade was partially lifted last month, obstacles such as damaged infrastructure, airstrikes, and lawlessness have hampered humanitarian access. On average, only 23 UN aid trucks have entered Gaza daily via the Kerem Shalom crossing, with many stopped or looted en route. A UN official said that only a few lorries had reached warehouses or bakeries, while most were intercepted by desperate civilians or gangs.
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Tensions have also risen around the role of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new aid body supported by Israel and the US, which has replaced the previous UN-led aid system. At least 37 Palestinians were killed on Monday while trying to reach GHF sites, local authorities claimed—figures disputed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). UN agencies have rejected the new model, calling it unworkable and politically driven, while denying claims that Hamas systematically steals aid. Since Israel resumed major operations on 18 March, more than 5,000 people have been killed, with the total death toll in Gaza reaching over 55,000.
