GAZA – A mounting humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza as Israeli forces reportedly killed at least 23 Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid, while two more babies succumbed to starvation, according to local health authorities and eyewitnesses.
The deaths occurred near aid distribution sites run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has come under intense scrutiny. Human Rights Watch has labelled these sites “death traps” and “bloodbaths,” documenting 859 deaths at GHF-linked distributions between May 27 and July 31 alone.
This week, UN and Palestinian officials disclosed that 23 people were killed near aid points, including seven at a site south of Khan Younis. Meanwhile, medics reported two infants died of starvation in the past 24 hours as aid delivery remains painfully insufficient for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Humanitarian agencies warn that Gaza is facing what the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) describes as a “worst-case scenario of famine,” with acute malnutrition already claiming over 154 lives, including 89 children since October 2023.
Chaos and insecure conditions at aid sites continue to exacerbate the crisis. Convoys are frequently overwhelmed, looted, or fired upon, with at least 600 injuries and 50+ fatalities linked to food distribution convoys in recent days. Aid operations face obstruction due to restrictive Israeli crossings, delayed convoy schedules, and militarized settings.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff visited Gaza aid sites this week, pledging to improve delivery mechanisms and press for a ceasefire. However, GHF operations remain heavily criticized for lacking transparency, fairness, or safety protocols, especially in comparison to UN-led humanitarian systems.
Human Rights Watch is calling for immediate suspension of the GHF distribution scheme and for Israel to lift restrictions on aid access, labelling the lethal control of civilians seeking food as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Without urgent diplomatic progress and unhindered humanitarian access, analysts warn that Gaza’s unfolding famine will deepen—with long-term consequences for a generation of children who may face irreversible health and cognitive damage.
Source: News Agencies
