Israeli Strikes Claim 25 Lives in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes and gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 25 individuals in Gaza overnight into Saturday, as reported by Palestinian health officials and local ambulance services. This incident occurred amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and an escalating humanitarian crisis in the region, with many victims reportedly seeking aid near the Zikim crossing with Israel.

The fatalities were primarily caused by gunfire while individuals waited for aid trucks, with further casualties occurring in airstrikes that hit an apartment building in Gaza City, according to medical personnel from Shifa Hospital. In response to a request for comments regarding the shootings, the Israeli military did not provide any statements.

Ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas appear to have reached a deadlock, particularly following the withdrawal of U.S. and Israeli negotiating teams on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Friday that alternative options to negotiations are being considered. In contrast, a Hamas official suggested that talks may resume next week, interpreting the recall of delegations as a pressure tactic. Egypt and Qatar, which also mediate these discussions, described the pause as temporary, although no timeline for the resumption has been provided.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become dire, with the United Nations and various experts warning of a looming famine. Reports indicate an increasing number of deaths attributed to malnutrition, with children—previously healthy—beginning to starve. While the Israeli military maintains that it is facilitating unhindered aid deliveries into the enclave, the U.N. asserts that Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting hinder the effectiveness of aid efforts. Despite claims of over 250 aid trucks entering Gaza from the U.N. and other organizations this week, this number is significantly lower than the approximately 600 trucks that were entering daily during a prior ceasefire that was terminated in March.

The recent shooting incidents at Zikim occurred shortly after a tragic event where at least 80 Palestinians were killed while attempting to access aid. The Israeli military stated that soldiers fired upon a crowd they deemed threatening. Eyewitness Sherif Abu Aisha recounted that panic ensued when people mistook the lights from Israeli tanks for those of approaching aid trucks, leading to gunfire. Among the deceased was Abu Aisha’s uncle, a father of eight, who had gone in search of food amidst the severe shortages.

As international scrutiny intensifies regarding Israel's response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, over two dozen Western-aligned nations and more than 100 charitable and human rights organizations have called for an end to hostilities, condemning Israel’s blockade and its newly established aid delivery framework. According to the U.N. human rights office, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since May as they sought food, particularly near new aid sites operated by an American contractor.

In a recent development, Israel announced that it would allow airdrops of aid, a request initiated by Jordan. These airdrops, primarily consisting of food and milk formula, are being coordinated with the U.K. government, which aims to facilitate both aid delivery and the evacuation of children in need of medical assistance. However, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, cautioned that airdrops are costly, inefficient, and could potentially harm starving civilians, asserting that they will not reverse the growing starvation or prevent the diversion of aid.