CAIRO, July 20 – A tragic incident in northern Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 67 people due to Israeli fire while they were waiting for U.N. aid trucks, according to the territory's health ministry. This incident marks one of the highest reported casualty tolls in a series of recent events where individuals seeking humanitarian assistance have been harmed, with an additional 36 fatalities reported the previous day. The health ministry also reported that six more individuals lost their lives near another aid site in southern Gaza, raising the total number of casualties in Gaza from Israeli actions to 88 on that day alone.
The Israeli military stated that its forces fired warning shots at a large crowd in northern Gaza, citing an immediate threat. They suggested that the casualty figures reported might be inflated, and asserted that they do not intentionally target humanitarian aid operations. However, no immediate comment was provided regarding the incident in the south of Gaza.
In light of these developments, Israel issued new evacuation orders for areas densely populated with displaced Gazans, prompting some residents to begin leaving their homes. Following the military's distribution of leaflets urging evacuation from central Gaza's Deir al-Balah, residents reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted three houses in the vicinity. Many families, forced to flee, carried their belongings as they sought safety, contributing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis where hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans are currently taking shelter.
According to the Israeli military, operations are focused on dismantling Hamas's capabilities and infrastructure, with the caveat that no ground operations have occurred in the areas under evacuation order during the current conflict. Israeli sources have indicated that the army's restraint may be due to suspicions that Hamas is holding hostages in those areas. It is believed that at least 20 out of 50 hostages are still alive, leading families of the hostages to demand clarity from the military on the situation.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly over the course of more than 21 months of war, leading to fears of widespread starvation. Palestinian health officials have warned that hundreds could die imminently due to severe food scarcity, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients suffering from dizziness and exhaustion linked to malnutrition. The Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas, reported that at least 71 children have succumbed to malnutrition during the conflict, with an alarming 60,000 others exhibiting symptoms of malnutrition.
On Sunday alone, it was reported that 18 individuals died of starvation within a 24-hour period. The dire conditions have caused food prices to soar beyond the reach of most residents in the territory, which is home to over two million people. Many families are struggling to find even the most basic food items, with some individuals reporting they have had only one meal or none at all in the past day. One father, Ziad, a nurse, expressed the desperation of his situation, stating, “As a father, I wake up in the early morning to look for food for my five children, but all in vain. People who didn't die of bombs will die of hunger. We want an end to this war now, a truce, even for two months.”
Residents have reported feeling faint while walking in the streets, and many are avoiding discussions about food with their children. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has called for Israel to permit more aid trucks into Gaza, claiming they have enough supplies to feed the entire population for over three months, which has not been allowed entry. The Israeli military has stated that they prioritize the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza and are working to facilitate its entry in cooperation with the international community.
Some Palestinians speculate that the recent military actions in Deir al-Balah may be an attempt to pressure Hamas during ongoing negotiations for a truce. Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Doha, aiming for a 60-day truce and a hostage deal, though no significant breakthroughs have been achieved. The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. In response, the Israeli military campaign has reportedly claimed the lives of over 58,000 Palestinians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
