Dozens Are Killed at Aid Site Near Border, Gaza Health Officials Say

According to Gaza health officials, dozens of people have been killed at an aid site near the border. Witnesses, health officials, and the United Nations' human rights office have reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces as they tried to reach aid sites or convoys. The Israeli military has claimed it has only fired warning shots. This latest incident adds to a grim and rising death toll of those seeking food and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The reports from Gaza's Health Ministry and various aid organizations indicate a dire situation, with a surge in deaths from starvation and malnutrition, particularly among children. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has noted that attacks on civilians seeking food are rising, with a significant number of deaths occurring near aid distribution sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The UN's human rights office has stated that the majority of these killings were committed by the Israeli military. Israel, however, denies that there is widespread starvation in Gaza and accuses the UN aid system of allowing Hamas to steal aid, a claim the UN denies. Amid this crisis, the international community has struggled to get enough aid into the territory to meet the population's needs, with aid convoys facing delays and safety issues.