At least 44 people lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to rescue officials, following the looting of a World Food Programme warehouse amid desperate humanitarian conditions.
The attacks come as aid has only recently begun trickling back into Gaza after more than two months of blockade, yet the humanitarian crisis remains severe after 18 months of conflict. Experts warn that one in five residents faces starvation.
Mohammad al-Mughayyir, a Gaza civil defense official, reported that 23 of the fatalities occurred in a strike on a residence in Al-Bureij. Additionally, two people were killed and several others injured by Israeli forces' gunfire near the American aid center in the Morag area of southern Gaza.
The American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) operates this distribution center, which is part of a new aid system implemented by Israel to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas. However, the system has faced criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.
"The situation is degrading and humiliating," said Sobhi Areef, a Gazan who risked entering a GHF center to obtain food. "We must risk our lives just to secure a bag of flour for our children."
Israeli military officials stated they are investigating the deaths in Al-Bureij and near the aid center. The military also claimed to have targeted dozens of terror sites across Gaza in recent operations.
In a phone conversation with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned Israel's "systematic starvation tactics," declaring they cross all moral and legal boundaries.
On Wednesday, thousands of Palestinians stormed a World Food Programme warehouse in Deir al-Balah, desperate for emergency food supplies as gunfire erupted. The UN condemned the breach, noting that food supplies were pre-positioned for distribution.
The aid situation in Gaza is particularly strained due to the controversial role of the GHF, which bypasses the traditional UN-led distribution channels under Israeli authorization. Israel’s ambassador to the UN accused the UN of attempting to obstruct GHF's operations through intimidation tactics against NGOs, while the UN maintains it is facilitating limited aid deliveries allowed by Israeli authorities.
Earlier, 47 people were wounded when Palestinians rushed a GHF site, with at least one confirmed death. GHF dismissed several reports questioning its activities, claiming there are entities aiming to undermine its efforts.
Residents describe chaotic conditions at aid centers. Abu Fawzi Faroukh, 60, observed that young men receive aid first due to their ability to carry heavy loads, leaving elderly and women struggling to access supplies amidst the crowd.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations continue with cautious optimism from US envoy Steve Witkoff, who expects to propose a plan soon. However, many Gazans remain pessimistic about the conflict’s resolution.
Since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war, 251 individuals were taken hostage; 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 3,986 people have died since the Israeli military ended the ceasefire on March 18. Overall, the death toll from the conflict exceeds 54,000, predominantly civilians.
