GAZA CITY, Palestine: Israeli airstrikes killed at least 42 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) set to vote on a resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, 26 of the fatalities occurred when Israeli drones attacked civilians waiting at aid distribution points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a United States and Israeli-backed relief agency.
Mohammed el-Mougher, a senior official in Gaza’s civil defence, told AFP that al-Awda Hospital received 10 bodies and around 200 wounded following Israeli drone strikes near the Netzarim checkpoint in central Gaza.
He added that al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City had received six bodies after similar strikes on aid queues in Netzarim and the as-Sudaniya area in the northwest.
The GHF, which began operations in Gaza in late May, has come under scrutiny for its aid delivery model.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) criticised the group, calling its methods dangerous and ineffective.
“This model will not address the deepening hunger. The dystopian ‘Hunger Games’ cannot become the new reality,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“The UN, including @UNRWA, has the knowledge, expertise and community trust to provide dignified and safe assistance. Just let the humanitarians do their jobs,” he added.
In a separate incident, two Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling in the Bir an-Naaja area, west of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera reported citing a medical source at al-Shifa Hospital.
Eight aid workers killed
Meanwhile, the GHF reported on Thursday that at least eight of its staff had been killed in an attack in Gaza, revising its earlier toll of five.
“As of now, we can confirm at least eight fatalities, multiple injuries, and we fear that some of our team members have been taken hostage,” GHF interim executive director John Acree said in a statement cited by AFP.
In response, the Hamas government’s media office accused the GHF of colluding with Israeli forces. “The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has become a filthy tool in the hands of the occupying army, used to lure civilians into deadly traps,” a spokesperson told AFP.
The situation in Gaza has further deteriorated following Israel’s decision to cut off communication lines.
Hamas condemned the move as “a new aggressive step” in its “war of extermination” against Palestinians.
The communications blackout has affected humanitarian operations, with UNRWA confirming it had lost contact with its colleagues in the territory.
Starvation of civilians
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also weighed in, accusing Israel of committing a war crime by deliberately starving civilians.
“To use starvation of civilians as a method of war is a war crime. Life-saving humanitarian help must never be politicised or militarised,” she said at a press conference.
“There are strong indications right now that Israel is not living up to its commitments under international humanitarian law.”
The 193-member UN General Assembly is expected to vote later today on a draft resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
UN General Assembly to vote on ceasefire resolution
The resolution also calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
It further demands unrestricted humanitarian access and strongly condemns the use of starvation as a method of warfare and the obstruction of relief efforts.
Despite strong diplomatic support for the resolution, Israel has lobbied countries to oppose the vote.
In a letter to UN member states cited by Reuters, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon described the draft as “immensely flawed and harmful,” calling it a “farce” that undermines hostage negotiations and fails to condemn Hamas.
Last week, a similar resolution in the UN Security Council was blocked by a United States veto. However, diplomats anticipate that the General Assembly will adopt the resolution with overwhelming support.
