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.
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