Waiting for aid, met with Israeli fire: Palestinian hunger turns deadly

GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) — In Gaza, food queues have become frontlines. On Wednesday alone, at least 47 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the besieged enclave, including 11 civilians who had gathered near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, waiting for aid trucks.

More than 100 others were injured in the same incident. The attack took place early in the morning on Salah Al-Din Street, now a recurring site of death for desperate aid seekers.

In the last 24 hours, hospitals across Gaza have received 144 dead and 560 injured, according to the Health Ministry. Tuesday marked the deadliest day at aid distribution sites so far, with at least 89 Palestinians killed in similar circumstances.

Israel’s military has allowed only a limited number of aid trucks into Gaza, creating massive crowds and worsening already dire humanitarian conditions. These gatherings have become deadly flashpoints. Gaza’s Government Media Office accuses Israeli-backed armed gangs of targeting aid convoys and civilians, further sowing chaos.

Elsewhere, Israeli airstrikes killed civilians in multiple locations. In Gaza City’s al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, three people, including a child, were killed when a residential home was bombed.

In central Gaza, a strike on a house in the Maghazi refugee camp killed ten people. In Khan Younis, eight civilians—including children—were killed when Israeli forces bombed tents sheltering displaced families in al-Mawasi.

Later Tuesday night, Israeli jets pounded Deir el-Balah and the al-Buriej refugee camp. In al-Bureij, four members of the same family, including women and children, were killed when their home was struck.

In Deir el-Balah, at least three civilians were killed in separate strikes on a tent and a residential home. Israeli artillery fire was also reported in northern Khan Younis, causing further casualties.

These repeated attacks come as Israel’s assault on Gaza enters its ninth month. Since the war began in October 2023, at least 55,637 Palestinians have been killed and over 129,880 injured. More than 5,300 have died since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, shattering a ceasefire agreement reached in January.

Beyond Gaza, violence continues in the occupied West Bank.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces shot and killed 22-year-old Ali Hamza Hajajleh in the village of al-Walaja, west of Bethlehem, after storming his house. His body was taken by Israeli troops, drawing further condemnation.

Amid this unrelenting violence, questions are mounting over the role of international actors. Business records filed in Israel last month revealed that Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a private U.S. contractor, is overseeing logistics at controversial U.S.-run aid sites in Gaza.

These sites, operating outside the UN system under the Israel- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), have reportedly seen over 400 Palestinians killed while seeking food.

The humanitarian fallout is being felt globally. In the United Kingdom, public opinion is shifting sharply against Israel’s actions.

A recent YouGov poll shows that 55% of Britons oppose the war in Gaza, with 82% of them calling it genocide. Among Labour voters, the sentiment is even stronger—87% of those opposed believe Israel is committing genocide, representing 59% of the party’s base.

Support for international legal action is also growing. Sixty-five percent of Britons support enforcing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Labour voter support reaching 78%. Just five percent of Labour supporters oppose such enforcement.

There is also growing support for Palestinian statehood. Thirty percent of U.K. adults support immediate recognition of Palestine, while 19% favour eventual recognition.

Among Labour voters, 43% support immediate recognition, with only 2% opposed. Humanitarian solidarity is also strong: 56% of Labour voters support launching a Gaza visa scheme, modelled on the UK’s “Homes for Ukraine” programme.

As diplomatic outrage grows, so too does the death toll in Gaza—where hunger, displacement, and war have combined into a grim daily reality. With no safe place left and no clear path to peace, the people of Gaza remain trapped in what many around the world now consider one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century.