At least 73 Palestinians were killed and around 150 others injured by Israeli gunfire on Sunday as they gathered to receive humanitarian aid, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The incident, which unfolded in both northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, marks one of the deadliest in a series of recent attacks on aid seekers.
The ministry reported that 67 of the fatalities occurred in northern Gaza, while six people were killed in Khan Younis in the south.
It remains unclear whether the northern casualties resulted from a single incident or multiple episodes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged firing warning shots but claimed the action was taken to remove an “immediate threat” after large crowds of Gazans were seen gathering.
“The IDF is aware of the claim regarding casualties in the area, and the details of the incident are still being examined,” the military said in a statement, without confirming the number of deaths.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that a 25-truck convoy carrying desperately needed food crossed into Gaza via the Zikim border on Sunday morning. However, the agency said the convoy was met by large crowds of civilians who soon came under fire.
“As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers, and other gunfire,” the WFP said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the shooting must “stop immediately.”
The organization warned that humanitarian operations in Gaza are becoming increasingly perilous.
In parallel, the IDF issued a warning to residents of several areas in northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia, Jabalya, and Beit Hanoun, describing them as “active combat zones.”
Residents were advised to evacuate immediately due to the “intense force” being used by the military.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, described the situation as “catastrophic.”
Speaking to CNN, he said many victims, including medical personnel, arrived in a state of collapse due to starvation and dehydration.
“Ambulances and civilian vehicles have not stopped arriving, transporting the wounded and the dead,” he added.
The Palestinian Red Crescent also reported receiving 120 injured individuals at its Al-Saraya Field Hospital in Gaza City, along with two bodies. Several patients were listed in critical condition.
