Deadliest Day for Aid-Seekers in Gaza as Israeli Forces Expand Operations and Evacuation Orders

At least 85 Palestinians were killed Sunday while seeking food aid in Gaza, marking the deadliest day for aid-seekers since the war began over 21 months ago, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The majority of deaths occurred in northern Gaza, where conditions remain dire, as crowds gathered to access food brought in through the Zikim crossing. Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry’s records department, confirmed 79 deaths in that region alone. The U.N. World Food Program reported that 25 aid trucks entered the area for “starving communities” and were met with massive crowds. A U.N. official, speaking anonymously, said Israeli forces opened fire toward people attempting to retrieve the aid. U.N. video footage obtained by the Associated Press showed men fleeing as gunfire erupted.

Eyewitness Ehab Al-Zei, seeking flour after going without bread for 15 days, described being trapped for hours under gunfire and tank shelling. “Let us die of hunger, it’s better,” he said. Nafiz Al-Najjar, also injured in the incident, said tanks and drones targeted civilians at random. Israel’s military confirmed it had fired at Palestinians who posed a threat but said reported casualty numbers were far higher than what its initial probe indicated. It blamed Hamas for orchestrating chaos around the aid deliveries.

Hospitals in Gaza reported more than 150 people injured, some critically. Six others were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire in the Shakoush area north of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution site in Rafah. The GHF said it had no information on the incident. Witnesses and health officials claim hundreds have been killed while trying to access GHF sites.

Seven more Palestinians, including a 5-year-old boy, were killed in tent shelters in Khan Younis, according to Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, including Deir al-Balah, a previously safer area, further narrowing access between Deir al-Balah, Rafah, and Khan Younis. Additional orders were reiterated for evacuations from northern Gaza.

Residents expressed confusion and fear over the expanding evacuation zones. Hassan Abu Azab questioned where people were supposed to go now that the central zone was being cleared. Smoke, blasts, and sirens filled the air as families loaded possessions onto carts, including live ducks. The U.N. said it was in talks with Israeli officials to determine whether its facilities in Deir al-Balah were affected. One U.N. official noted that past orders had spared U.N. facilities.

The Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) group said several humanitarian organizations were ordered to evacuate immediately, and nine clinics, including MAP’s, were shut down. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee advised people to flee to the Muwasi camp on Gaza’s southern coast, a designated humanitarian zone with minimal infrastructure.

The escalation coincides with ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that increasing military pressure will strengthen Israel’s negotiating position. Earlier this month, Israel claimed to control over 65% of Gaza.

More than 2 million Palestinians are trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis, reliant on limited aid. Many have been displaced multiple times. On Sunday, ambulances at three major hospitals sounded simultaneous alarms to raise awareness about rising hunger. The Health Ministry shared photos of doctors protesting the lack of food and medication for malnourished children.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 251 hostages. Fifty remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry is run by Hamas, the U.N. and international bodies consider its casualty figures credible, noting that more than half of those killed have been women and children.

The Hostages Family Forum, representing hostage families, denounced the new evacuation orders and demanded clarification from Netanyahu and the military about their objectives in central Gaza. “Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,” the group said. On Saturday, tens of thousands marched to the U.S. Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, calling for an end to the war.