UN Probes 600 Gaza Killings Near Humanitarian Aid Sites/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli airstrikes and shootings near aid sites killed dozens in Gaza, escalating the humanitarian crisis. The UN reports over 600 deaths linked to aid convoys in a month. Ceasefire talks are ongoing as the war’s toll surpasses 57,000 lives.
Quick Look: Gaza Airstrikes and Shootings Quick Looks
- Israeli airstrikes killed at least 15 Palestinians Friday
- 20 more shot dead near Gaza aid distribution sites
- UN says 613 killed near aid convoys in past month
- Gaza death toll surpasses 57,000 since war began
- Trump disappointed after call with Putin about ending war
- Israeli army issues new evacuation orders in Khan Younis
- Ceasefire talks continue between Hamas and mediators
- Israeli military investigating civilian casualties near aid sites
Dozens of Palestinians Killed in Gaza Airstrikes, Shootings Near Aid Sites
Deep Look
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed at least 15 Palestinians in Gaza early Friday, while hospital officials reported 20 more people fatally shot while waiting for desperately needed humanitarian aid. The violence comes amid mounting international concern over rising civilian deaths near aid distribution points across the territory.
The U.N. human rights office says it has documented 613 killings in Gaza over the past month linked to humanitarian convoys and Palestinians trying to reach aid centers. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the office, noted that while responsibility for every incident remains under investigation, there’s “clear evidence the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach distribution points” operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli-backed American group distributing food and supplies.
Of the deaths documented, 509 were tied directly to incidents at or near GHF sites, according to Shamdasani. “Information keeps coming in. This is ongoing and it is unacceptable,” she told the Associated Press.
GHF, meanwhile, denies any deaths or serious injuries inside its facilities, maintaining that incidents outside its immediate areas are matters for the Israeli military.
New Evacuation Orders Crowd Gaza’s Coastline
The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders Friday for parts of northeastern Khan Younis, urging civilians to relocate westward as forces prepare new operations against Hamas. The new orders further compress displaced Palestinians into smaller pockets along Gaza’s coastal strip.
Amid ongoing combat, the Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed in northern Gaza Friday, bringing the total Israeli military death toll to more than 860 since the war’s outbreak, including over 400 in Gaza operations.
Deadly Toll Near Aid Distribution Points
Hospital officials in Khan Younis reported 20 people killed in shootings near aid convoys and distribution areas overnight into Friday. Among the dead were three people in Rafah, near two GHF-operated sites, and 17 more who were shot while waiting for trucks in eastern Khan Younis.
In separate airstrikes, at least 15 Palestinians were killed, including eight women and a child, as bombs fell on the Muwasi area, a coastal zone crowded with displaced families sheltering in tents.
The Israeli military said it is reviewing reports about the strikes. It has previously acknowledged firing warning shots to manage large crowds or deter people from approaching troops.
U.N. Continues Probe of Civilian Deaths
Shamdasani clarified that the U.N. death tally reflects casualties both directly at GHF sites and near humanitarian convoys. The U.N. uses verified hospital data and other field reporting to confirm casualties.
Despite the high civilian toll, both sides remain engaged in diplomacy aimed at halting the 21-month-long conflict.
Ceasefire Talks in Focus
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Thursday that discussions were continuing over a proposed truce. “We’ll see what happens. We’re going to know over the next 24 hours,” Trump said when asked whether Hamas had accepted a ceasefire plan.
Hamas confirmed Friday it is consulting with other Palestinian factions on a proposal from Egyptian and Qatari mediators and will deliver its response once talks conclude.
Earlier this week, Trump said Israel had agreed to a framework for a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions deteriorate further.
Gaza’s Death Toll Climbs Past 57,000
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported Friday that the death toll since the war’s start has now surpassed 57,000. The ministry does not separate combatants from civilians but says over half the dead are women and children.
The conflict erupted when Hamas-led fighters stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing roughly 250 hostages.
Since GHF sites opened in May, Palestinian witnesses and health officials have reported hundreds of casualties near these distribution points, blaming Israeli gunfire or shelling. Israel’s military insists it fires warning shots and denies targeting civilians intentionally, while saying it’s investigating reports of civilian harm.
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