Funerals are currently being held for Palestinians who tragically lost their lives while attempting to access humanitarian aid in the Zikim region of Gaza City. In a critical response to the escalating food crisis, US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Gaza on Friday. This visit, confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt, will include US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Witkoff aims to assess food distribution sites and formulate a plan to enhance food delivery, while also engaging with local residents to gain firsthand insight into their dire circumstances.
During his ongoing visit to Israel, Witkoff had a “productive” meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as noted by Levitt. Meanwhile, the health ministry operated by Hamas in Gaza reported that 111 individuals had been killed, with 91 fatalities occurring while people were seeking aid within the 24-hour period leading up to Thursday midday.
Tragic incidents near aid distribution sites
Reports indicate that over 50 Palestinians were killed and around 400 others sustained injuries while waiting for food near a crossing in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Eyewitness footage depicted the harrowing scene of casualties being transported on carts to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency attributed the chaos to Israeli forces firing at the crowds congregated around aid trucks. In contrast, the Israeli military stated that its troops had discharged “warning shots” but were unaware of any resulting casualties.
Israeli officials have issued warnings that failure to achieve progress concerning a ceasefire and hostage negotiations could lead to punitive actions against Hamas, including the possible annexation of portions of Gaza. Shortly following Witkoff’s arrival in Israel, US President Donald Trump expressed on social media, “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!”
Escalating humanitarian crisis
Witkoff’s visit to Gaza comes after discussions with Netanyahu, focusing on pressing issues like food and aid access in the region. The visit is particularly significant in light of troubling reports that have emerged. According to the UN-backed global food security experts, the “worst-case scenario of famine” is currently unfolding among Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. UN agencies have labeled the situation as a man-made, mass starvation crisis, attributing the blame to Israel for controlling all supplies entering Gaza.
Despite these claims, Israeli officials assert that there are no restrictions on aid deliveries and deny the existence of starvation. Nevertheless, Israel has recently introduced measures purportedly aimed at facilitating aid collection and distribution within Gaza, including daily “tactical pauses” in military operations in specific regions and the establishment of “designated humanitarian corridors.” However, the UN’s humanitarian office has critiqued these tactical pauses, stating that they do not enable the continuous flow of supplies needed to address the overwhelming demands of the population.
The director of al-Shifa hospital, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, revealed that the facility received the bodies of 54 victims from the Zikim area incident, along with 412 individuals who were injured. Reports from the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency confirmed that at least 30 people were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for aid.
“In the current situation, there is no food or water. People go to get food from the Zikim area, where they are targeted. He went to bring flour but came back carried in the flour bag,” said a local witness.
The violence surrounding aid distribution sites has raised significant concern, with the UN human rights office reporting that over 1,050 Palestinians have died at the hands of the Israeli military while attempting to obtain food aid since the initiation of operations by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The foundation, backed by the US and Israel, has stated that it has distributed over 98 million meals in the past two months, despite accusations from Israel that Hamas instigates chaos near aid sites.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the urgent need for effective interventions and ceasefire agreements grows ever more critical. The ongoing conflict, which escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in immense loss of life, with reports indicating at least 60,249 fatalities in Gaza since that time.