Tragic Aid Crisis: Dozens of Palestinians Killed in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Efforts

Fri Oct 17 2025 09:53:56 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Israeli military actions amid aid distribution efforts lead to fatalities, prompting calls for reevaluation of humanitarian strategies in Gaza.

Hospitals in Gaza report that dozens of Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid. Violence erupted near a U.S.- and Israel-backed food distribution site in the Netzarim corridor, with claims of gunfire from Israeli forces and tragic incidents involving vehicles. Reports indicate that the situation is worsening amidst a severe humanitarian crisis, escalating tensions between Israel, Hamas, and aid organizations.

Dozens of Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives while trying to secure essential aid in Gaza, as indicated by hospital officials. In particular, two hospitals confirmed that overnight 25 individuals were killed close to a convoy providing flour and a food distribution site managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the U.S. and Israel, in the Netzarim corridor — a zone marked by the Israeli military.

The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency alleged that Israeli forces opened fire during these incidents, with additional reports of individuals being crushed by lorries or shot by fellow Palestinians. Correspondingly, the Israeli military stated that warning shots were fired at suspects approaching their positions.

Further south, six people were reportedly killed from Israeli gunfire near a GHF site in Rafah, with Nasser hospital in Khan Younis observing the situation closely. The Israeli military is currently investigating the Rafah incidents.

According to the GHF, over 43,000 food parcels were distributed at three designated centers in Rafah and central Gaza on Wednesday, with the distribution occurring "without incident." However, it should be noted that deadly incidents have transpired near GHF locations almost daily since the new aid distribution framework commenced on May 26.

The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, contends that a staggering 223 individuals have died and 1,858 have been injured in attempts to access aid in designated areas over the latest two weeks. The GHF, which relies on U.S. private security details, aims to establish its operations independently of the United Nations, which has been reluctant to support the initiative, citing concerns over humanitarian neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Amidst growing concerns, both the U.S. and Israel assert that the GHF's system is vital to preventing aid from being siphoned off by Hamas, a claim the UN disputes. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened in the wake of a nearly three-month Israeli blockade, recently eased three weeks ago, with rising levels of hunger reported across the population of 2.1 million.

Following the Hamas-led assaults on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the hostage-taking of 251 individuals, the Israeli military has escalated its operations in Gaza. The territory's health ministry indicates that at least 55,104 Palestinians have died since the conflict's intensification.