CAIRO: At least six Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on them waiting for food aid in Gaza City, said Gaza health ministry officials on Thursday.
The incident occurred as residents gathered for aid supplies at the Kuwait roundabout in northern Gaza City late Wednesday evening. Israeli forces opened fire, leading to casualties, as reported by residents and health officials.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the displacement of the majority of the enclave’s 2.3 million population, with chaotic scenes and deadly incidents often occurring during aid distributions as desperate individuals seek food.
Earlier, on Feb. 29, Palestinian health authorities reported over 100 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces while awaiting aid near Gaza City.
In Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, a Palestinian medic reported that an Israeli missile struck a house, resulting in nine fatalities on Thursday. Israeli aerial and ground bombardments reportedly continued overnight in various areas across the enclave, including Rafah in the south, where over a million displaced people are seeking shelter.
The Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in 69 Palestinian deaths and 110 injuries in the past 24 hours.
Israeli Forces Kill 31,000 Palestinians in Five Months
Since October 7 last year, more than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, were killed in Israel air, sea, and ground offensive, Palestinians health authorities said.
As the conflict enters its sixth month, the UN has warned of a looming famine, with approximately 576,000 people in Gaza—roughly one-quarter of the population—facing severe food insecurity. Pressure has mounted on Israel to allow increased access to the enclave for aid delivery. However, Israel continuously denies obstructing aid deliveries into Gaza.
