Gaza Officials Report Dozens Killed While Seeking Aid on Day 669 of Conflict

Gaza Officials Report Dozens Killed While Seeking Aid on Day 669 of Conflict

GAZA CITY, August 6, 2025 — Gaza’s health officials reported today that 79 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, with 52 of the casualties occurring among crowds gathered to receive humanitarian aid. The incident is the latest in a series of events where civilians have been harmed during aid distribution, as the conflict reaches its 669th day.

According to a spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health, the deaths occurred at a distribution point near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza. Witnesses present at the site described a chaotic scene, stating that gunfire erupted as people surged toward the aid delivery trucks.

The Israeli military has not yet released a statement on this specific incident. However, in response to similar events in the past, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that troops are instructed to fire warning shots to manage large crowds and only target individuals they identify as a threat. The IDF has also consistently disputed casualty figures provided by Gaza officials, claiming they are often inflated or do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have expressed grave concern over the safety of aid distribution. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has previously reported that such incidents are a recurring issue, with civilians and aid workers alike facing significant risks. Aid agencies have highlighted that the increasingly desperate conditions and a lack of predictable aid flow contribute to the dangerous environment around distribution points.

This latest report comes as international efforts continue to seek a political resolution to the conflict. A UN-backed report from earlier this week warned that the conditions in Gaza were rapidly deteriorating, with food and medical supplies at a critically low level, creating an environment where basic survival has become increasingly perilous.