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Days of Palestine
5 days ago
- Health
- Days of Palestine
Israel Kill over 338 starving Gazans seeking food since launch of US distribution sites
DaysofPal – Israeli attacks on Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 338 civilians and injured thousands more, according to Palestinian health officials. In the most recent assault, at least 20 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded around dawn on Monday, as Israeli troops opened fire on crowds gathered at aid distribution points. The besieged enclave, already devastated by months of war, is grappling with extreme hunger as a result of an Israeli blockade preventing the entry of essential food, water, and medical supplies. Despite mounting international concern, aid remains scarce, and access is strictly controlled. A lethal distribution system In late May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new aid initiative, turning over distribution efforts to the US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The mechanism, however, has been widely condemned by humanitarian officials and local residents alike, who report daily massacres of civilians seeking aid at GHF-controlled sites. 'We call on all concerned parties to work to find alternative mechanisms for distributing aid without causing the death of hungry people or causing serious injuries in such large numbers,' the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated, following Monday's mass killing that left 50 people in critical condition. Since May 27, at least 2,831 people have been injured, and nine remain missing after attacks at aid distribution locations. The ministry's appeal comes amid reports of ongoing atrocities involving both Israeli forces and GHF-aligned mercenaries. Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, described the current aid system as a 'lethal distribution system.' In a statement, he emphasized the worsening crisis: 'Tragedies go on unabated while attention shifts elsewhere. Restrictions on bringing in aid from the UN, including UNRWA, continue despite an abundance of assistance ready to be moved into Gaza.' He also pointed to severe fuel shortages crippling the delivery of critical services and issued a stark warning: 'Killings and wars will breed more wars and bloodshed. Civilians will always suffer the most. Political will, leadership, and courage are overdue and needed more than ever. It's time for long-lasting peace in Gaza and across the region.' Blackouts and bombardment increase the death toll Alongside attacks at aid centers, Israeli military operations across Gaza continue to claim civilian lives. According to local sources, at least 43 people were killed by Israeli fire on Monday morning alone. The overall death toll since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza now stands at 55,432 people, with 128,923 injured. The humanitarian crisis has been compounded by renewed communication blackouts. On Thursday, Israeli forces targeted the last remaining fiber optic line connecting Gaza to the outside world, severing all internet and landline telecommunications across the southern and central regions. A statement from Gaza's Government Media Office condemned the action as 'a crime aimed at obscuring the truth and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe.' 'The widespread and recurring interruption of communications and the internet cannot be considered a technical or accidental failure. Rather, it is a deliberate and premeditated crime aimed at isolating the Gaza Strip from the outside world, obscuring the truth, and depriving citizens of the most basic necessities of life, safety, communication, and assistance.' While a partial return of service was reported over the weekend, renewed Israeli military action on Monday led to further disruptions, once again paralyzing communication across central and southern Gaza. Shortlink for this post:
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
At least seven Palestinians killed in Israeli air strikes on Deir al-Balah and al-Bureij refugee camp
At least seven Palestinians have been killed in a wave of Israeli air strikes targeting central Gaza's Deir el-Balah and al-Buriej refugee camp on Tuesday evening, Wafa news agency is reporting. In Deir al-Balah, an Israeli strike targeting a house in the city centre killed at least one person, while another attack targeting a tent sheltering displaced people in the Abu al-Ajeen area killed at least two. Meanwhile, in al-Bureij, four members of the same family were killed in an Israeli strike targeting their house. The fatalities included women and children. Wafa also reported Israeli artillery shelling in northern Khan Younis, which caused "further destruction and casualties". Earlier today, Israeli forces killed at least 80 Palestinians in two ambushes at US-run aid distribution centres in Rafah and Khan Younis. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, approximately 30 people were killed in the al-Alam area of Rafah, while the death toll rose to nearly 50 in the al-Tahlia area of Khan Younis. The latest deaths have pushed the toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 2023 to 55,493, with another 129,320 injured.
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Tuesday death toll in Gaza rises to 89
At least 89 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, with at least 80 killed in Israeli ambushes at US-run aid distribution centres in Khan Younis and Rafah, the Palestinian health ministry has said in a statement. The attacks occurred as residents gathered at aid distribution points, where they came under artillery shelling from Israeli forces.
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Israeli forces kill 80 Palestinians in ambushes on Gaza aid centres
Israeli forces killed at least 80 Palestinians and wounded hundreds in two ambushes at US-run aid distribution centres in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses told Middle East Eye that Israeli forces ambushed thousands of starving Palestinians, killing and wounding hundreds in the attacks. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, approximately 30 people were killed in the al-Alam area of Rafah, while the death toll rose to nearly 50 in the al-Tahlia area of Khan Yunis. The attacks occurred as residents gathered at aid distribution points, where they came under artillery shelling from Israeli forces. "We headed to the distribution point after hearing that wheat would be handed out - at 7am, we were ambushed in the Tahlia area," said Abdalla Elyyan a resident of Khan Younis. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters He told MEE told that they had been informed that aid would be distributed in 30 minutes when, without warning, Israeli forces unleashed artillery shelling and gunfire. "Chaos erupted. People were strewn across the streets—so many killed and wounded," said Elyyan. "Can you imagine shells raining down on thousands of people packed into a small area? The number of people killed was staggering." The ministry said emergency, intensive care and operating rooms in Gaza's hospitals were severely overcrowded due to an influx of patients, amid a severe shortage of essential medicines and supplies. Nidal Abu Nseira, another resident of Khan Younis said shells landed in the middle of a crowd of up to 5,000 people. "Hundreds were killed or wounded. I personally transported at least 50 injured people - many had injuries to the head and legs. Body parts were scattered across the streets," he said. At least 5,139 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on the territory on 18 March following the unilateral ending of a ceasefire, according to the health ministry. The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out on 7 October 2023 has reached 55,432 people. Aid attacks and communication cut The besieged enclave's population is grappling with starvation as a result of an Israeli blockade on essential food and water supplies entering the territory. Israel and its allies in Washington have only allowed the controversial US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute essential supplies to Palestinians. However, massacres of those seeking aid by Israeli soldiers and GHF-aligned mercenaries have been a daily occurrence. "It's a trap, not an aid organisation. It's a trap to kill our men," said one woman, whose cousin was killed in Tuesday's attacks. "He went out to get food for his family. And he was killed. They set up this new aid mechanisms so they can lure our young men and kill them one by one." Israel cuts Gaza internet as dozens more aid seekers killed Read More » On Thursday, all internet and landline telecommunications services were completely cut off when Israel launched a direct attack on the last remaining main fibre optic route connecting Gaza. In a statement, the Gaza-based Government Media Office described the action as "a crime aimed at obscuring the truth and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe". "The widespread and recurring interruption of communications and the internet cannot be considered a technical or accidental failure," it said. "Rather, it is a deliberate and premeditated crime aimed at isolating the Gaza Strip from the outside world, obscuring the truth, and depriving citizens of the most basic necessities of life, safety, communication and assistance." The blockaded enclave's southern and central governorates were affected by the destruction, joining Gaza City and the northern region, which have been disconnected since the beginning of the week. Following a partial return to telecommunication and internet services over the weekend, renewed disruptions - caused by resumed Israeli military action - were reported on Monday across central and southern Gaza.
Middle East Eye
7 days ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
More than 330 Palestinians killed by Israel since start of US-backed lethal aid scheme
Israeli attacks on Palestinians seeking aid in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 338 civilians, according to Palestinian health officials. In the most recent series of assaults on civilians at aid delivery points, at least 20 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 left wounded around dawn on Monday. The besieged enclave's population is grappling with starvation, as a result of an Israeli blockade on essential food and water supplies entering the territory. Israel and its allies in Washington have only allowed the controversial US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute essential supplies to Palestinians. However, ki of those seeking aid by Israeli soldiers and GHF-aligned mercenaries have been a daily occurrence. You can read more here.
