Deadly Aid: At Least 73 Killed Seeking Food In Gaza Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

 

At least 73 Palestinians were killed and around 150 injured by Israeli gunfire on Sunday while attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. This marks one of the deadliest incidents in a growing list of aid-related casualties since the start of the conflict.

Most of the deaths—67 people—occurred in northern Gaza. An additional six were reported killed in Khan Younis in the south. It remains unclear whether the northern fatalities happened in a single event or several separate incidents.

The Israeli military stated that its troops had “fired warning shots in order to remove an immediate threat” after identifying a large gathering of people in northern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged reports of casualties but did not confirm any numbers, stating the situation was under investigation.

Warnings and Active Combat Zones

The IDF also issued evacuation warnings to residents in several areas of northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia, Jabalya, and Beit Hanoun. “These areas are active combat zones and extremely dangerous,” warned IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee in Arabic, urging residents to avoid these regions entirely.

Despite the warnings, many civilians continue to risk their lives in search of food and aid.

Overwhelmed Hospitals and Starving Civilians

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, reported that civilians were shot at while attempting to collect aid northwest of the city. “Al-Shifa Medical Complex is in a catastrophic state,” he said. “There have been a large number of deaths and injuries among those seeking aid, and ambulances and civilian vehicles have not stopped arriving.”

He also noted that many patients, including medical personnel, are arriving in critical condition due to severe malnutrition.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its Al-Saraya Field Hospital in Gaza City received 120 injured people and two dead bodies on Sunday. The victims were reportedly targeted while waiting for aid arriving from the Zikim area, north of Beit Lahia. The influx of patients overwhelmed the hospital, which has a capacity of only 68 beds.

Forced Evacuations Continue

In central Gaza, residents of Deir Al Balah reported being forced to flee after receiving leaflets from the Israeli military ordering evacuations. “The planes came and dropped many leaflets,” said resident Thurayya Abu Qunneis. “We are dying, and our children are dying of hunger.”

Another resident, Mohammad Al Najiri, voiced the frustration of many: “Where should we go? There is no place to evacuate to.”

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) criticized the evacuation orders, saying they endanger essential humanitarian services and accelerate the breakdown of Gaza’s healthcare system. Nine clinics, five shelters, and a community kitchen were reportedly forced to shut down on Sunday due to the evacuations.

More Fatalities at Aid Sites

On Saturday, at least 32 more people were killed near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution point. The Israeli military said its troops encountered “suspects” near Rafah who failed to comply with warnings, prompting warning shots. The military is reviewing the incident.

The Hamas-run Government Media Office reported that nearly 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access aid since May 27. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed that at least 800 had died in similar circumstances between late May and early July.

A Humanitarian Emergency

As the crisis deepens, the lack of access to food, medical care, and shelter is pushing Gaza’s population to the brink. Aid agencies warn that the ongoing violence, combined with restrictions on humanitarian access, is creating a perfect storm of hunger, displacement, and collapse.

Sunday’s tragic events underscore the increasingly deadly reality for civilians in Gaza—where seeking aid has itself become a matter of life and death.