Israeli Troops Kill Dozens of Palestinians Awaiting Aid at Gaza Border
Israeli Troops Open Fire as Palestinians Gather for Aid Near Gaza Border
Humanitarian Convoy Incident at Zikim Crossing
Israeli forces opened fire near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza on Sunday as thousands of Palestinians assembled, awaiting a humanitarian aid convoy from the United Nations. According to Gaza health officials and local medical workers, dozens were killed and over 100 wounded in the chaos.
The World Food Program reported its 25-truck convoy encountered “large crowds of civilians anxiously waiting to access desperately needed food supplies.” As the convoy approached, Israeli tanks, snipers, and other gunmen opened fire on the crowd. The incident highlights the increasingly perilous conditions for humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, with ongoing hunger and desperation after nearly two years of military conflict.
Contradictory Accounts and Growing Desperation
Gaza’s health ministry and Al-Shifa Hospital reported over 60 fatalities and more than 100 gunshot injuries from the incident.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society’s field hospital was overwhelmed with casualties, with a spokesperson describing a flood of gunshot victims.
The Israeli military stated soldiers initially fired “warning shots” after the Gaza crowd gathered, and claimed subsequent live fire was to “remove an immediate threat.” The military also stated the casualty figures released by Palestinian sources did not match their initial assessment and said they were investigating the incident.
Background: Hunger and Aid Distribution Chaos
This tragedy was not an isolated event; similar shootings have occurred during rushes for aid. The distribution of food and essentials in Gaza has often been marred by violence, with crowds desperate for relief frequently meeting Israeli gunfire. A day prior, at least 32 people reportedly died near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site in southern Gaza under similar circumstances.
Eyewitnesses described how rumors of food deliveries prompted crowds to camp overnight at the border zone, despite persistent dangers. Once aid trucks crossed, the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
Evacuation Orders and Unprecedented Displacement
In the aftermath, Israel’s military issued warnings for residents to evacuate northern Gaza and sections of Gaza City, identifying these as “combat zones.” The order extended to parts of Deir al-Balah, an area where intense military operations had previously been avoided, partly due to concerns for remaining hostages believed to be held there.
These orders intensified an ongoing crisis of displacement, with many Palestinians forced to relocate multiple times as conflict zones expand. Tent encampments have become overcrowded, and fear is rampant among civilians uncertain about their next refuge.
Numbers and Human Impact
Over 57,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, have died in Gaza since the conflict erupted, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its counts.
The violence originally flared after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in some 250 hostages.
As of now, about 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities estimating 20 may still be alive. There are fears among their families that further military operations could endanger them.
Conclusion
The incident near the Zikim crossing underscores the immense challenges facing both aid organizations and Gaza’s civilian population: distributing food and supplies amid war, hunger, and repeated displacement. The loss of life during desperate scrambles for aid spotlights the severe humanitarian crisis persisting in Gaza and the urgent need for effective, safe, and accountable relief efforts.
