At least 83 Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to medical sources, as Israeli military operations intensify amid a deepening hunger crisis. Hospitals in the enclave also reported eight additional deaths from starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total number of hunger-related fatalities since the start of the war to 188, including 94 children.
Among those killed on Tuesday were 58 civilians who had gathered near food distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid initiative backed by the United States and Israel. Witnesses and medical staff say Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd as they approached the site.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, described the incident as part of a recurring pattern.
“Palestinians are approaching these distribution sites, waiting for food, but the Israeli forces are opening fire,” Khoudary said.
Sources at al-Shifa Hospital confirmed a large number of injuries from the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, with many victims suffering gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and chest areas that are difficult to treat.
“The cycle of violence is the same in all three distribution locations,” Khoudary added.
Humanitarian Agencies Sound Alarm
The United Nations and other humanitarian organisations have criticised GHF for failing to provide sufficient aid and for the lack of security at its distribution points. According to aid monitors, more than 1,560 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access food since the onset of the Israeli blockade and military campaign.
Health officials warn that the starvation crisis is accelerating, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and older people.
Personal Accounts of Suffering
Salim Asfour, 75, told Al Jazeera he has been surviving on bread and water for months. He said his weight has dropped from 80kg (176 pounds) to 40kg (88 pounds) since the war began.
“My son needs to help me walk to the bathroom,” Asfour said. “How will I get the food aid from Rafah? How will I walk 20km (12 miles)?”
Aid Access Severely Restricted
On Monday, Israeli authorities permitted only 95 aid trucks to enter Gaza—far below the 600 trucks per day required to meet minimum survival needs, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The current daily average stands at just 85 trucks.
Gaza’s Government Media Office issued a statement warning of an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe. It claimed that much of the limited aid has been looted due to “security chaos being sowed by the Israeli occupation as part of a systematic policy of engineering chaos and starvation.”
As the crisis deepens, international pressure is mounting for a ceasefire and the establishment of secure humanitarian corridors to prevent further loss of life.