Israeli forces opened fire near two food aid distribution sites in Gaza, killing at least ten people, according to witnesses and health workers. The incident took place as thousands of desperate Palestinians gathered for food, heightening international concern about Gaza’s escalating famine. These sites, operated by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), had been visited just a day earlier by US officials who praised the system’s potential. However, the growing death toll near such locations paints a grim picture of the humanitarian situation on the ground.
According to Gaza’s health officials, 19 additional people were killed at the Zikim crossing, where they had gathered in hopes of receiving food aid. Nearly a week has passed since Israel announced limited humanitarian pauses and initiated airdrops under global pressure, yet aid agencies and local sources report that these measures remain deeply insufficient. Supplies continue to pile up at checkpoints, unable to move without Israeli approval, while the little that does make it through is frequently looted before reaching those in need.
Recent reports have described the situation in Gaza as being at the “worst-case scenario of famine.” In the last 24 hours alone, seven people, including a child, reportedly died of starvation-related causes. Many Palestinians now rely almost entirely on humanitarian aid for survival, with Gaza’s infrastructure and food systems devastated by nearly 22 months of ongoing conflict.
At the northern GHF site near the Netzarim corridor, witnesses described scenes of chaos and bloodshed. One man, Yahia Youssef, recounted helping carry gunshot victims away from the aid zone, calling the violence a daily occurrence. At least eight people were confirmed dead at that site alone. Israeli forces claimed to have fired only warning shots and said they were unaware of any lethal fire. GHF, meanwhile, denied any incident near their locations, stating that their armed guards used only pepper spray or warning shots to control crowds.
In the southern city of Rafah, witnesses said Israeli troops opened fire in the Shakoush area, killing at least two people. Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis received multiple casualties from the same incident. One witness, Mohamed Abu Taha, said he saw three people shot as he tried to escape the scene.
The GHF was established in May as an Israeli alternative to the UN-run aid system, which Israel has accused of enabling Hamas to divert supplies—though no solid evidence has been provided. Supported by US funding, GHF now operates several key aid distribution routes. However, between May 27 and July 31, a UN report noted 859 Palestinians were killed near GHF aid sites. Hundreds more have reportedly died along aid convoy routes formerly protected by Hamas-led police, who have now been targeted by Israeli forces.
While international coalition-led airdrops have been introduced as another method of aid delivery, experts argue they are inadequate and sometimes dangerous for civilians on the ground. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, urged a return to safer and more consistent truck-based aid delivery.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, families of Israeli hostages continue to press their government for a resolution. US envoy Steve Witkoff met with some of the families on Saturday, but they said they received no new or concrete commitments. Demonstrators in Israel have called on the government to secure a ceasefire and negotiate the release of captives.
Meanwhile, the war that began with Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel—which killed around 1,200 people—has now led to the deaths of over 60,400 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. That figure includes a rising number of children and adults dying from malnutrition, with at least 93 children and 76 adults reported dead from hunger-related causes since the war began. The UN continues to use Gaza's Health Ministry as a primary source for casualty data despite its affiliation with the Hamas-run administration.
Amid rising calls for accountability and an end to the suffering, Gaza remains gripped by war, starvation, and desperation, as much of the international community watches with growing alarm.
