Gaza Conflict Escalates Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

The Nasser hospital in southern Gaza reported that 24 people were killed near an aid distribution site, with Palestinians blaming Israeli troops for opening fire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied responsibility, stating there were 'no known injured individuals' from their fire. The incident has not been independently verified due to Israel's ban on international news organizations in Gaza. The event is part of a larger context of severe food shortages and frequent reports of people being killed while seeking aid in Gaza.

The article reports on the escalating violence in Gaza as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stall in Doha. Several children were killed in an Israeli airstrike at a water distribution point in central Gaza, and other deadly incidents occurred in the territory, resulting in a significant increase in casualties. The Palestinian health ministry reported 139 bodies brought to Gaza hospitals in 24 hours, bringing the total number of people killed since October 7, 2023, to 58,026. The Israeli military acknowledged that an airstrike targeting an 'Islamic Jihad terrorist' went wrong, and the incident is under review. The article highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Palestinians forced to make 'impossible choices' between starvation and risking death to secure aid. The ceasefire talks are stalled due to disagreements over the Israeli military's redeployment in Gaza.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed aid group, has distributed 70 million meals to Gazans since May, but faces criticism from UNRWA and other NGOs, who accuse it of causing chaos and death. GHF claims it is bypassing Hamas-controlled aid networks and providing direct aid to families. The conflict highlights tensions between the US and Israel-backed GHF and the UN-led aid distribution model.

At least 59 Palestinians were killed and 132 injured after the Israeli military opened fire near an aid distribution centre in Gaza, with the Red Cross reporting the highest number of fatalities at its field hospital since May last year. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed to have fired 'warning shots' at suspects approaching their troops, while witnesses and paramedics described the incident as a 'mass murder' and 'genocide'. The violence is part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas-led militants, which has resulted in over 57,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.

At least 798 people have been killed in Gaza while receiving aid in the past six weeks, with acute malnutrition reaching an all-time high. The UN human rights office reports that the majority of deaths occurred near aid distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been backed by Israel and the US. The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has reported severe malnutrition cases at its clinics, with food prices at extreme levels. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied any violence at its sites, but the UN has called its aid model 'inherently unsafe' and a violation of humanitarian impartiality standards.