ISLAMABAD (PEN) : At least 82 Palestinians have lost their lives in a series of Israeli air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, including numerous civilians who were gathered near humanitarian aid distribution points, health officials confirmed on Saturday.
Aid Seekers Among the Casualties
Gaza health authorities reported that 34 of those killed were aid seekers, including women and children, who had congregated near aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by Israel and the United States.
The deadliest incident occurred in central Gaza, where Israeli forces targeted civilians waiting for food assistance. Hospital sources cited by Al Jazeera said that at least 23 people died in this attack, while 11 more fatalities were recorded in similar strikes in southern Gaza.
In addition, Israeli warplanes bombed a residential home west of Deir el-Balah, causing several deaths. Gaza City also suffered intense strikes resulting in 23 casualties.
Rising Toll and Humanitarian Concern
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid since the GHF began operations on May 27 has now reached 409, with over 3,200 injured.
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have voiced deep concern over repeated attacks targeting civilians at food and water distribution points. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder described the conditions as “catastrophic,” warning that Gaza faces a man-made drought due to the collapse of water infrastructure.
“Just 40 percent of Gaza’s drinking water facilities are still operational. Children will begin to die of thirst,” Elder stated at a press briefing in Geneva. He also highlighted injuries among children and mothers attempting to access food aid.
Elder noted that confusion surrounding aid distributions, including communication blackouts and unclear operating hours at GHF sites—some located near active combat zones—have contributed to mass casualties.
“There have been instances where people rushed to a site thinking it was open, only to come under fire,” he said.
Controversy Around Aid Delivery
Despite international criticism, the GHF claimed it had distributed over three million meals at three sites “without an incident” earlier this week. However, the United Nations warned that the group’s presence was “making a desperate situation worse,” especially amid the ongoing Israeli blockade restricting access to essentials between March and late May.
Escalating Regional Tensions
The conflict’s wider regional impact was underscored by exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran over the past week. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s military campaign during a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) youth forum in Istanbul.
“This madness must end as soon as possible,” Erdogan said, accusing Israel of hypocrisy regarding damage to hospitals caused by Iranian strikes. He noted that Tel Aviv had carried out “over 700 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza alone.”
No Ceasefire in Sight
As the war enters its ninth month, more than 37,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, and over 1.9 million displaced, according to Gaza’s health authorities. With humanitarian conditions worsening and no ceasefire agreement reached, international calls are growing for Israel to halt military operations targeting civilians and allow unrestricted aid access.
