Gaza Strike Kills Children Seeking Emergency Food Aid

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Gaza Strike Kills Children Seeking Emergency Food Aid \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An Israeli airstrike near a Gaza clinic killed 14 people, including nine children, as humanitarian conditions in the enclave worsen. Malnutrition is spiking, and hundreds have died attempting to access food amid military zones. Despite recent talks, no ceasefire deal has emerged between Israel and Hamas.

Quick Looks

Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah kills 14, including 9 children
Three young brothers were hit while seeking food aid
57,000+ Palestinians have died since October, mostly women and children
Doctors Without Borders reports extreme malnutrition among mothers and babies
UN confirms 798 Palestinians killed near aid sites in one month
Ceasefire negotiations between Trump and Netanyahu show no breakthrough
Hamas demands full Israeli withdrawal and prisoner release for hostages
Israel insists on Hamas disarmament before ending military operations

Deep Look

The war in Gaza took another heartbreaking turn Thursday when three young brothers left their home early to collect emergency food supplements—what they called “sweets”—from a local aid clinic in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. By the time their father, Hatem Al-Nouri, woke up, two of his sons were dead, and the youngest had lost an eye.

“What did these children do to deserve this?” Al-Nouri asked through tears. “They were dreaming of having a loaf of bread.”

The Israeli airstrike outside the clinic killed 14 people, nine of them children, according to Gaza’s al-Aqsa Hospital. While Israel confirmed it was targeting a militant involved in the October 7 Hamas attack, security footage reportedly showed two young men walking by the clinic moments before the blast, while dozens of civilians, including children, were gathered outside.

Four-year-old Amir died instantly. Eight-year-old Omar clung to life briefly but died at the hospital. Two-year-old Siraj was severely wounded, losing an eye. Al-Nouri said he initially didn’t recognize his youngest son due to the extent of his injuries.

The Human Cost of Hunger

This tragic episode is one of many as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis reaches catastrophic levels. Hundreds of civilians, including children, have died in recent weeks while attempting to access food, health officials say. Hunger is now widespread across the territory’s 2 million residents, many of whom have been displaced multiple times over the course of Israel’s 21-month military campaign.

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) described the current food emergency as “sharp and unprecedented,” reporting severe acute malnutrition among over 1,200 women and children at just two of its clinics. The conditions are so dire that:

Up to five infants share a single incubator in overcrowded neonatal units
Pregnant women often weigh less than 40 kilograms (88 pounds)
Mothers are pleading with doctors simply for basic food

“This is my third time in Gaza,” said MSF physician Dr. Joanne Perry, “and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Israel’s military authority overseeing Gaza has insisted it is allowing sufficient aid into the enclave and blamed United Nations agencies and aid groups for delays in distributing supplies. However, the U.N. and multiple humanitarian organizations have countered that Israel’s military restrictions and the collapse of local law enforcement have made large-scale distribution virtually impossible.

Deadly Routes to Aid

In an attempt to address the crisis, Israel and the U.S. helped launch a new aid mechanism led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-based group. But according to witnesses, health officials, and U.N. reports, the operation has turned into a deadly gauntlet.

Palestinians attempting to reach GHF distribution sites—often located in Israeli-declared military zones—have reportedly come under fire. Some witnesses say hundreds have died along these routes.

The U.N. Human Rights Office confirmed that between June and early July, 798 people were killed near aid locations:

615 deaths occurred near GHF-controlled sites
The rest were along U.N. and NGO convoy routes

GHF has denied the allegations, saying the figures are “false and misleading” and that the bulk of fatalities occurred near U.N. convoys. Still, two GHF contractors told the Associated Press that their own staff had used live ammunition and stun grenades as desperate crowds rushed food trucks.

The Israeli military admitted to firing warning shots but claimed the fire was directed at people behaving suspiciously or encroaching on military zones. Independent media are banned from these zones, limiting external verification.

No Ceasefire After Trump-Netanyahu Talks

Amid the worsening humanitarian disaster, U.S. President Donald Trump held two days of talks in Washington this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While both leaders signaled hope for a new agreement, no ceasefire deal emerged.

Trump said he is “close” to brokering a new plan, which would include:

A 60-day ceasefire
The release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies
Massive inflows of humanitarian aid
A pathway to negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

However, fundamental disagreements persist. Israel insists it will not end the war until Hamas is fully disarmed, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages.

Currently, Hamas still holds around 50 hostages, fewer than half believed to be alive. These include some of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead.

Since the war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported over 57,000 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being women and children. The ministry, overseen by Gaza’s Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but its figures are considered credible by the United Nations and global humanitarian organizations.

Conclusion: A War Without End, A Crisis Without Relief

As negotiations stall and food insecurity reaches famine-level conditions, the suffering of civilians continues to mount. With aid distribution obstructed, families risk their lives for rations, and children searching for food are dying in airstrikes.

The clothing clinic in Deir al-Balah where Amir, Omar, and Siraj hoped for “sweets” has become another symbol of a humanitarian nightmare — one that deepens with each passing day without peace.