UN Food Agency: Israeli Tanks, Snipers Shot on Gaza Crowd Seeking Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The UN World Food Program says Israeli tanks and snipers opened fire on Palestinians trying to access aid in Gaza. At least 80 people were reported killed in the incident, which occurred as aid trucks arrived in northern Gaza. The Israeli military denies intentional engagement and questions the death toll.
UN Condemns Gaza Aid Incident: Quick Looks
- UN: Israeli forces fired on civilians near aid convoy
- At least 80 killed, dozens more wounded in northern Gaza
- WFP demands end to attacks near humanitarian aid routes
- Israeli military denies deliberate fire, questions casualty figures
- Incident deepens crisis as war death toll exceeds 59,000
- Strikes continue in Gaza, killing women and children
- Ceasefire talks continue with no breakthrough
- Israel also launches strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen
UN Food Agency: Israeli Tanks, Snipers Shot on Gaza Crowd Seeking Aid
Deep Look
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has accused Israeli forces of opening fire on Palestinian civilians gathered around an aid convoy in northern Gaza, resulting in one of the deadliest days for aid-seekers since the war began in October 2023. The incident adds to mounting concerns over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues.
In a strongly worded statement released Sunday, the WFP said that a large crowd attempting to access food aid was “caught under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers, and other gunfire.” The agency, which has generally worked cooperatively with Israeli authorities, said the attack claimed “countless lives,” though it did not cite a specific number. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 80 fatalities.
“This tragedy occurred despite prior assurances from Israeli officials that armed forces would not engage near aid routes,” the WFP stated. “Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions must stop immediately.”
Details of the Incident Emerge
The aid convoy, consisting of 25 trucks, was attempting to deliver food to northern Gaza, where the humanitarian need is particularly acute. Eyewitnesses, health officials, and a UN staff member said the convoy was surrounded by civilians desperate for supplies when Israeli forces opened fire. A photographer working with the Associated Press counted 51 bodies between Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital and Sheikh Radwan clinic.
“These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation,” said the WFP.
The Israeli military responded by saying soldiers fired “warning shots” to address an “immediate threat” and stated it had not verified the casualty figures released by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani posted a video on social media showing Israeli troops near a crowd as a soldier shouted “Do not shoot!” The authenticity of the video, including its time and location, has not been independently verified.
Israel has banned foreign journalists from entering Gaza throughout the conflict, making independent verification of incidents difficult.
Continued Strikes and Civilian Deaths
While the aid incident drew international attention, violence continued across Gaza. On Monday, Gaza health officials reported 13 more deaths from overnight Israeli airstrikes, including five children and two women. In one case, a family of five, including two parents and their children, was killed in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis. Additional strikes hit tents and residential buildings in Gaza City.
Two people were reportedly killed Monday morning while waiting near an aid distribution point in the Netzarim corridor, according to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa Hospital.
Gaza’s Health Ministry also reported the detention of Dr. Marwan al-Hams, the acting director of the territory’s field hospitals and the ministry’s spokesperson. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on his arrest.
Aid Access Continues to Deteriorate
Humanitarian access in Gaza has sharply declined, with many civilians forced to risk their lives simply to obtain food. Violence has plagued aid distribution routes, particularly those tied to the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a U.S.- and Israeli-supported initiative. The foundation has denied that violence occurred directly at its sites but acknowledged the instability surrounding aid operations.
The war, now in its 21st month, has left over 59,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which says more than half of the victims are women and children. While the ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, the UN and other aid organizations regard its casualty tracking as the most consistent available.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. As of now, only 50 hostages are believed to remain alive in Gaza.
Evacuation Orders and Regional Escalation
Israel has expanded evacuation orders in Gaza, now including areas of Deir al-Balah that had previously avoided major ground operations. Aid groups warn that Palestinians are being pushed into increasingly limited and dangerous spaces.
Meanwhile, the regional conflict shows signs of escalation. On Monday, Israel launched strikes on the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah port in Yemen. The Israeli military said the Houthis were rebuilding facilities previously targeted in Israeli strikes and using the port to receive Iranian weapons and launch missiles. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned, “The Houthis will pay heavy prices for launching missiles towards the state of Israel.”
This was the second strike on Hodeidah in two weeks, signaling Israel’s growing concern over the widening reach of the war.
Ceasefire Talks Remain Unresolved
Despite active negotiations in Qatar between Israel and Hamas, no breakthrough has emerged. A ceasefire remains elusive, and neither side has signaled a clear pathway toward de-escalation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to argue that military pressure is essential to forcing Hamas into concessions.
With food supplies dwindling, infrastructure decimated, and evacuation orders expanding, Gaza’s civilian population faces growing despair. The latest incident involving the UN food convoy has heightened scrutiny of Israeli tactics and added urgency to international calls for a ceasefire.
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