Around 93 Palestinians Killed As Gunfire Erupts Near Aid Centres In Gaza, Civil Defence Says

Gaza’s civil defence agency has accused Israeli forces of opening fire on Palestinians gathering for humanitarian aid on Sunday, leaving at least 93 dead and dozens injured in several parts of the besieged territory.

The deadliest incident reportedly occurred in northern Gaza, where 80 people were killed as aid trucks arrived, according to the AFP agency spokesperson Mahmud Basal. Nine others were fatally shot near an aid distribution point in Rafah, just a day after a similarly deadly incident in the southern city. An additional four deaths were reported near an aid site in Khan Yunis, also in the south.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that one of its 25-truck convoys, carrying food aid, came under fire near Gaza City. The convoy had just crossed into Gaza from Israel and cleared all checkpoints when it encountered what the WFP described as "encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire."

The Israeli military challenged the reported death toll, stating that troops fired warning shots in response to what it called "an immediate threat" as large crowds approached near Gaza City.

Tragedy At The Frontlines Of Desperation

Civilians being shot while seeking aid has become tragically routine in Gaza. Local officials have blamed Israeli forces for targeting crowds desperately searching for basic necessities like food and water amid severe shortages and ongoing displacement.

Earlier this month, the United Nations revealed that nearly 800 people had been killed in similar incidents since late May—many of them along routes intended for aid convoys.

Qasem Abu Khater, 36, was among those trying to collect aid on Sunday. He described the scene to AFP as overcrowding and deadly: "The tanks were firing shells randomly at us and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest."

"Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes and no one could save anyone." he said.

The WFP has condemned all violence directed at civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid, calling it "completely unacceptable."

Ongoing Challenges In Verifying Accounts

Due to severe media restrictions and the inability to access many areas within Gaza, AFP has stated it cannot independently verify the reported death tolls or the circumstances surrounding each incident.

The Israeli army has said it takes steps to prevent harm to civilians and recently issued new operational guidelines following a series of deadly encounters involving civilians near aid distribution zones.

In a separate development, Israel on Sunday revoked the residency permit of Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN’s humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) in Israel. Whittall has been openly critical of the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused him on X of spreading "lies" about the war.

The war, which began after Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has already claimed thousands of lives. According to an AFP tally based on official figures, 1,219 people—mostly civilians—were killed in Israel during the attack.

Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed 58,895 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently expressed regret to Pope Leo XIV after a stray munition struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, killing three people who had sought shelter there.

The pope condemned the attack during his Angelus prayer on Sunday, denouncing the "barbarity" of the war in Gaza and calling for an urgent return to peace. He referred to the church strike as part of "ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza."

In a rare visit, the Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, traveled to Gaza on Friday and held mass at the church on Sunday.

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