In a tragic turn in Gaza, crowds of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid were shot by Israeli forces on Sunday, leaving 93 dead and dozens wounded, the Gaza civil defense agency reported.
According to the agency, 80 people were killed in the north as truckloads of food arrived, while nine others were shot near an aid distribution point close to Rafah in the south—where another deadly incident occurred less than 24 hours earlier. Four more deaths were recorded near a site in Khan Yunis, an agency spokesman told AFP.
The UN World Food Programme's 25-truck convoy, which had just crossed from Israel and cleared checkpoints, reported its trucks "encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire" near Gaza City.
Israel's military disputed the reported death toll, stating that soldiers fired warning shots "to remove an immediate threat posed to them" as thousands gathered near Gaza City.
This latest spike in casualties adds to an already grim humanitarian picture: the UN said nearly 800 aid-seekers have been killed since late May along aid routes, while Gaza health authorities report approximately 995 total deaths amid intensified hostilities.
With tensions rising, global observers are urging stronger safeguards for humanitarian corridors to protect civilians and ensure vital aid delivery across Gaza.
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Gazan civil defense agency says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers
cgtn.com
