Israeli Airstrikes Kill 46 Palestinians Amid Gaza Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli strikes killed at least 46 Palestinians overnight in Gaza, many while seeking food aid. Hospitals reported dozens of casualties, including children and adults dying from malnutrition. The conflict continues to escalate as the humanitarian toll deepens and global pressure for a ceasefire intensifies.
Gaza Civilian Deaths Mount – Quick Looks
- At least 46 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire overnight
- 30+ victims were seeking humanitarian aid at time of death
- 13 killed in Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya airstrikes
- 16 killed near aid trucks in Khan Younis, hospital says
- 4 deaths reported near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site
- 7 people, including a child, died from malnutrition
- 89 children and 65 adults now dead from hunger
- UK says it will recognize Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to ceasefire
- Israel has killed over 60,000 Palestinians during the war
- Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas’ tactics in dense areas
Deep Look: Israeli Strikes Kill 46 in Gaza, Hospitals Say, As Hunger Crisis Worsens
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (July 30, 2025) — As the war between Israel and Hamas grinds into its tenth month, at least 46 Palestinians were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across Gaza, according to local hospitals. Many of the victims were civilians seeking aid, underscoring the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged territory.
Hospitals in northern and southern Gaza reported that over 30 people were fatally shot or bombed while waiting for food aid, with additional casualties from targeted strikes in refugee camps and border regions.
The Shifa Hospital in Gaza City received 12 bodies Tuesday night, reporting that Israeli forces had fired into a crowd waiting near the Zikim aid crossing in northwestern Gaza. Medical staff described a scene of panic and chaos, as emergency responders struggled to treat dozens of wounded people in overwhelmed facilities.
In the Jabaliya refugee camp and nearby towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, 13 more people were confirmed killed in airstrikes. All three areas have faced heavy bombardment in recent weeks as Israel continues what it describes as targeted efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.
Further south, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported 16 fatalities near the Morag corridor, a newly constructed route dividing Khan Younis from Rafah. Victims were gathered close to a humanitarian aid distribution site when Israeli fire struck the area, according to hospital staff.
Another body, a man killed in a separate strike on a tent encampment in Khan Younis, was also received by Nasser Hospital.
The Awda Hospital in Nuseirat refugee camp confirmed receiving the bodies of four Palestinians, allegedly killed by Israeli fire near an aid site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the Netzarim corridor, south of Wadi Gaza.
Famine and Malnutrition Deepen
Gaza’s Health Ministry also reported that seven Palestinians, including a child, died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours alone. Since the war began, 89 children and 65 adults have died from hunger-related conditions, a toll that continues to rise.
Global humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned of a looming famine in Gaza, where aid access remains restricted and many residents rely entirely on sporadic food distributions or airdropped supplies. Long lines at charity kitchens and aid trucks have become common scenes, especially in cities like Khan Younis, where desperation has escalated.
International Pressure Builds
The latest wave of civilian deaths coincides with mounting international calls for Israel to agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term peace plan. On Tuesday, the United Kingdom announced that it will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel changes course.
The announcement follows a similar declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron, and intensifies pressure on Israeli leadership. In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the UK’s position, stating it undermines efforts to combat terrorism and secure long-term peace.
Historical Context and Current Toll
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israeli officials believe over half of the remaining hostages are now dead.
Since then, Israel’s military response has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government. The toll includes both civilians and combatants, though no formal distinction is made in the figures. Despite its affiliation, international organizations including the United Nations have treated the Health Ministry’s casualty data as broadly credible throughout the conflict.
Israeli Response
The Israeli military has yet to comment on the latest strikes but routinely insists that it targets Hamas fighters and infrastructure. Civilian deaths, it argues, are the result of Hamas operating within densely populated areas, using civilians as “human shields.”
As the war continues with no signs of resolution, humanitarian agencies warn that the civilian cost is becoming intolerable, with hunger, disease, and displacement now threatening the lives of millions of Palestinians trapped in the conflict zone.
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