Dozens Killed at Gaza Crossing While Seeking Aid – U.S. Envoy Heads to Israel for Urgent Talks

At least 48 Palestinians were killed and many others injured Wednesday as they gathered near the Zikim Crossing in northern Gaza, desperately waiting for food. Hospitals in Gaza, already overwhelmed, confirmed the casualties, calling it yet another horrifying incident in the deepening humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s military siege.

Chaos

Shifa Hospital reported receiving multiple dead and wounded after gunfire broke out near the Zikim aid entry point. Video from the scene showed ambulances, wooden carts, and even hand-carried stretchers transporting both the injured and bags of flour. It’s unclear who opened fire, and the Israeli military hasn’t commented.

Al-Saraya Field Hospital said it alone handled over 100 casualties. Officials believe the death toll may climb as bodies continue to arrive at other medical centers.

This is not an isolated incident. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 46 people were killed in similar food-seeking situations earlier in the day. Adding to the tragedy, seven Palestinians—including a child—died from malnutrition on Wednesday alone.

Desperation

As food becomes scarcer, more Gazans are risking their lives just to eat. The United Nations and multiple humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that Gaza is teetering on the brink of famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global body that tracks hunger, said the region is now facing a “worst-case scenario of famine.”

Here’s a snapshot of the escalating food crisis:

Factor	Status as of Now
Daily Trucks Needed	500–600
Trucks Entering (April)	Around 220
Children Dead (Malnutrition)	89
Adults Dead (Malnutrition)	65
Civilians Killed While Seeking Aid	1,000+ since May

Shortfalls

Under intense global pressure, Israel has recently agreed to increase aid deliveries, with 220 trucks reportedly entering Gaza on Tuesday. But that’s less than half of what aid agencies say is necessary. Aid convoys are struggling to move due to security breakdowns and disorganized unloading.

Even the new Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), set up to distribute aid more efficiently, has seen chaos. Witnesses and UN reports say over 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to get aid near GHF sites.

GHF says its private security contractors use pepper spray and fire warning shots to keep crowds under control. But Palestinians on the ground say that claim doesn’t match the reality.

Airdrops

With ground deliveries often blocked or too dangerous, international groups have resumed airdrops. But those have their own problems. Some food bags land in the sea or in evacuation zones. People have been seen swimming out to recover flour that washes ashore soaking wet.

These risky efforts show just how far ordinary people are willing to go to feed their families.

Denials

Despite mounting evidence, Israel denies any starvation is taking place in Gaza. Officials say focusing on hunger only derails efforts for a ceasefire and hostage release. Israel continues to blame Hamas for civilian suffering, citing that the group operates from heavily populated areas.

The war started after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s response has been relentless. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 60,000 deaths so far, although their count doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians.

As the death toll climbs and the hunger crisis escalates, international voices are urging immediate action. Without it, Gaza may face a full-blown famine in the days ahead.

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