Israel kills 57 Palestinians in Gaza as UN warns of ‘extermination’
As Gaza reels from another day of bloodshed, 57 Palestinians are killed and more than 300 injured—many while waiting for food
GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) – Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed at least 57 Palestinians and wounded over 300 others, health officials said, as violence once again engulfed aid distribution points and rescue efforts.
The most harrowing attack occurred at a food aid site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in central Gaza.
At least 19 people were shot dead and dozens more wounded when Israeli troops, reportedly using quadcopter drones and ground fire, opened fire on a crowd of displaced Palestinians waiting for food.
Medical staff at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza and Al-Quds Hospital in the north said they were overwhelmed with casualties.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and carnage. “The people were simply hungry, standing in line, waiting for aid. Suddenly bullets started flying, and bodies fell to the ground,” said one resident.
This is not the first time Israeli fire has struck civilians at aid distribution points. Since the GHF began operations in late May—reportedly with Israeli backing—such attacks have become almost routine, with hundreds killed and injured in similar circumstances.
The Israeli military has not provided a public explanation for Tuesday’s shooting.
Separately, three Palestinian paramedics were killed in what the Interior Ministry described as a direct tank shell attack in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.
The paramedics were reportedly evacuating victims of an earlier Israeli airstrike when their ambulance came under fire.
Tragically, a second ambulance dispatched to retrieve their bodies was also targeted—this time by Israeli drones and military vehicles. The incident has drawn fierce criticism from humanitarian organizations, who accuse Israel of systematically targeting emergency workers.
In another attack on Tuesday, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Momen Abu Alof was killed alongside three ambulance workers during a rescue mission in eastern Gaza City.
His death brings the number of journalists killed in the Gaza war since October 2023 to 227, according to local media and press freedom organizations.
The Health Ministry said the total Palestinian death toll from Israeli military operations since October 7, 2023, has now reached 54,981, with over 126,920 wounded—many of them women and children.
Over 4,700 of those deaths have occurred since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 following a brief ceasefire in January.
Israel’s actions in Gaza are increasingly coming under international legal scrutiny.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Simultaneously, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with proceedings initiated by South Africa and supported by dozens of countries and human rights organizations.
Western opposition mounting against Israel defying US pressures
In a significant diplomatic development on Tuesday, the U.K. announced it would impose sanctions on two of Israel’s most hardline ministers: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Both are prominent figures in Israel’s far-right settler movement and have vocally supported military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans and align the UK with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in a growing bloc of countries distancing themselves from Tel Aviv’s wartime policies.
While the US has thus far resisted sanctioning top Israeli officials, the UK’s move signals a widening transatlantic divide over Israel’s military conduct and political leadership.
In a powerful statement, a panel of UN human rights experts on Tuesday accused Israel of committing the crime against humanity of “extermination.” The group cited credible evidence of Israeli strikes on civilian shelters, religious sites, and aid queues.
“We are seeing more and more indications that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life in Gaza,” said Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and chair of the panel.
The experts urged the international community to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law and prevent further atrocities. “This is not just indiscriminate warfare. It is a systematic attack on the civilian population,” Pillay added.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates rapidly, aid agencies say there are no longer any safe zones for civilians. The UN and other international organisations have repeatedly warned of looming famine, the collapse of healthcare infrastructure, and the failure of aid corridors.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access, and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a political solution.
However, with Israel continuing its operations and Hamas showing no signs of surrender, prospects for peace remain distant.
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