At least 67 people were killed in northern Gaza while waiting for much-needed food aid. The victims had gathered in hopes of receiving supplies from a humanitarian convoy when gunfire broke out. The scene quickly turned tragic as what began as an effort to ease hunger ended in chaos and bloodshed.
The situation in Gaza has become increasingly desperate. Humanitarian workers reported being met by massive crowds of starving people, many of whom were too weak to stand. In some cases, medical teams described seeing people arrive at hospitals barely clinging to life due to extreme exhaustion and malnutrition.
Doctors at Gaza City’s Shifa hospital struggled to keep up. The facility was overwhelmed, and staff were forced to send patients to other makeshift clinics. Outside the hospital, a woman, visibly distressed, described the anguish of watching children suffer. “There’s nothing left — no food, only water and salt. Children are dying of hunger,” she said.
Sunday was particularly deadly. Health officials reported a total of 88 deaths across the territory, with six more people killed while trying to collect aid in other areas and over 150 wounded. Eighteen people reportedly died from starvation within a single day.
In addition to the deadly incidents near aid distribution points, the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders. Residents of Deir al-Balah, a densely packed area that hadn’t seen a ground offensive before, were told to flee immediately. Leaflets dropped from the sky urged people to move south toward the coast, warning of potential attacks.
The sudden announcement sent thousands of people scrambling to escape once again. Many of them had already been displaced multiple times since the conflict began. Makeshift camps in the area are filled with families living in tents, unsure of where to go next.
Concerns also mounted among Israeli families who believe hostages are still being held in these newly targeted zones. Some reports suggest that around 20 of the remaining 50 hostages taken during earlier violence may still be alive.
As the violence escalates and humanitarian access remains limited, calls for peace are growing louder. A global religious leader recently urged an immediate halt to what he described as senseless brutality. His appeal came shortly after a church in Gaza was hit in an airstrike, an incident the Israeli government said it regretted.
Since the conflict began in October 2023, tens of thousands have died. Nearly every family in Gaza has been affected — displaced from their homes, grieving loved ones, or struggling to survive amid worsening famine and fear.
The death toll continues to rise as hope for a peaceful resolution remains uncertain.