Cairo / Gaza: At least 67 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in northern Gaza on Sunday while waiting for U.N. aid trucks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, as the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave continues to deteriorate. Dozens more were wounded in the incident, one of the deadliest yet involving civilians seeking aid.

Israel’s military stated its troops had fired “warning shots” toward a large crowd to mitigate what it claimed was “an immediate threat,” while also alleging that casualty figures were likely inflated. It denied targeting humanitarian operations intentionally.

The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that its convoy of 25 food trucks had encountered “massive crowds of hungry civilians” and came under fire shortly after entering Gaza, calling the violence against civilians “completely unacceptable.”

In southern Gaza, another six civilians were reportedly killed near an additional aid site, raising Sunday’s total fatalities across the enclave to 90, including casualties from airstrikes.

Mass Displacement and Evacuation Orders
Following evacuation leaflets dropped by Israeli forces over Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, residents reported airstrikes targeting residential homes, prompting a fresh wave of displacement. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Palestinians had been sheltering in the area.

Israel’s military claims it had refrained from entering Deir al-Balah out of concern that Hamas may be holding hostages in the area. Families of hostages demanded clarity from the army, fearing further loss of life.

Starvation Crisis Worsens
As the war surpasses 21 months, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached critical levels. The Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, warned that hundreds of people are facing imminent death from hunger. At least 71 children have reportedly died from malnutrition since the conflict began, with 60,000 others showing symptoms of severe undernourishment.

The U.N. has urgently called for expanded access to aid, with UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, stating that food for three months remains undelivered due to Israeli restrictions.

Food prices have soared beyond the means of the population. Civilians recount surviving on a single meal or none at all. “People who didn’t die of bombs will die of hunger,” said Ziad, a local nurse and father of five.

Truce Negotiations Under Pressure
Indirect negotiations in Doha between Israel and Hamas for a proposed 60-day truce and hostage exchange continue, but no breakthrough has been achieved. A Hamas official warned that the rising death toll and hunger crisis could derail talks.

The war, which erupted after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages on October 7, 2023, has now claimed over 58,000 Palestinian lives and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, according to local health authorities.

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