Gaza Aid Tragedy Kills 85 as Israel Expands Evacuation Orders/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At least 85 Palestinians were killed Sunday while trying to reach aid convoys in northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The deaths occurred amid new Israeli evacuation orders covering central areas previously untouched by ground operations. Humanitarian groups and civilians now face heightened displacement and access issues.
Gaza Aid Deaths and Evacuation Orders: Quick Looks
- 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid trucks
- Incident occurred at Zikim crossing in northern Gaza
- Israeli military expands evacuation orders to central Gaza
- Witnesses say tanks and drones opened fire on crowds
- Israel accuses Hamas of orchestrating aid chaos
- Aid groups forced to shut offices, evacuate Deir al-Balah
- Civilian deaths include women, children, and the elderly
- Death toll in Gaza surpasses 58,800 since October 2023
Gaza Aid Tragedy Kills 85 as Israel Expands Evacuation Orders
Deep Look
A humanitarian tragedy unfolded in Gaza on Sunday as at least 85 Palestinians were killed while attempting to access food aid amid worsening hunger and expanded evacuation orders by Israel’s military. The incident, which Gaza’s Health Ministry described as the deadliest for aid seekers in the 21-month conflict, occurred near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza—an area where conditions are increasingly desperate.
Footage shared by United Nations personnel and reviewed by The Associated Press shows panic erupting as gunfire echoed around the aid convoy. The U.N. World Food Program said 25 aid trucks had entered Gaza for “starving communities” when thousands of people overwhelmed the site.
Eyewitnesses describe chaos and violence as Israeli tanks reportedly surrounded the area.
“Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,” said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and hadn’t eaten bread in more than two weeks. Injured survivor Nafiz Al-Najjar stated that tanks and drones targeted civilians “randomly,” killing his cousin and others.
Israeli Response and Accusations Against Hamas
The Israeli military acknowledged firing on a large crowd it considered a threat but challenged the casualty figures provided by Gaza officials, asserting that initial reports were exaggerated. Israel accused Hamas of creating disorder at aid sites, claiming militants often use civilian gatherings for cover.
Israel’s military also reported six additional Palestinian deaths in the southern city of Rafah, near a U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site. Health workers claimed the victims were also seeking food aid. The GHF said it was unaware of any incident near its facilities.
Aid Distribution Disrupted and Evacuation Orders Expanded
Humanitarian groups operating in central Gaza—previously considered one of the few relatively safe zones—now find themselves under evacuation orders. Several aid organizations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), were forced to shut clinics and evacuate offices. A MAP spokesperson confirmed that nine clinics had ceased operations.
The new evacuation orders sever vital access routes connecting Deir al-Balah in central Gaza to the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
“All of Rafah is under evacuation, and now half of Deir al-Balah is too,” said resident Hassan Abu Azab, as families loaded carts with personal belongings and live animals. Smoke and sirens signaled continued airstrikes in the area.
A U.N. official confirmed efforts were underway to clarify whether U.N. facilities in Deir al-Balah would be subject to evacuation. Historically, such locations have been exempt from forced relocations, but the current situation remains uncertain.
Civilian Toll and Infrastructure Collapse
The deaths of 85 civilians seeking food are the latest in a growing crisis. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 58,800 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The Ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths but states that over half the victims are women and children.
More than 150 people were wounded in Sunday’s aid incident, some in critical condition. The dead included families, the elderly, and a 5-year-old boy in Khan Younis, where tents shelter displaced Palestinians.
With more than 2 million people affected and limited aid reaching the enclave, hospitals are overwhelmed. Ambulances from three major hospitals simultaneously activated their sirens Sunday in an urgent plea for help. The Health Ministry posted images of malnourished children and doctors holding signs about critical medication shortages.
Domestic and International Reaction
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, held a mass Sunday in Gaza after an Israeli shell struck the territory’s only Catholic church days earlier, killing three and injuring ten. Among the wounded was a priest close to Pope Francis.
The Hostages Family Forum, a group representing Israeli families of captives held in Gaza, condemned the widening evacuations.
“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.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested Saturday night outside the U.S. Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, demanding a ceasefire and a deal to bring the remaining hostages home.
Ceasefire Talks and Ongoing Military Strategy
Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that military pressure remains key to influencing Hamas. Earlier this month, Israel’s military reported that it had gained control of more than 65% of the Gaza Strip.
In the meantime, Israel’s military continues directing displaced Palestinians to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp near the southern coastline, designated by the Israeli government as a “humanitarian zone.” Aid groups say conditions there remain grim, with little infrastructure or supplies to support the swelling displaced population.
As evacuation zones expand and aid distribution collapses under security and logistical challenges, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen with no clear resolution in sight.
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