Gaza Aid Chaos: 93 Killed in Hunger Queues as Israel Orders More Evacuations
UN Warns of ‘Devastating Blow’ to Fragile Lifelines as Conflict Intensifies
At least 93 Palestinians were reported killed on Sunday while seeking desperately needed food aid in Gaza. The grim toll emerged as Israeli forces issued new evacuation orders in densely populated areas, further complicating the dire humanitarian crisis.
Deadly Stampedes and Shootings Erupt at Aid Points
Gaza’s civil defence agency stated that the majority of victims perished queueing for aid trucks near the Zikim crossing with Israel. The territory’s health ministry reported that Israeli gunfire was responsible for many deaths, marking one of the highest single-day casualty counts among those seeking assistance.
In separate incidents, nine people were reportedly shot and killed near an aid distribution point close to Rafah in the south, and four more lost their lives at another site in Khan Younis, according to civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Basal.
Israel Cites ‘Threat’ Amid Disputed Casualty Figures
The Israeli military confirmed its soldiers had opened fire on a large gathering of Palestinians near Gaza City, claiming they posed a threat. However, they stated that the reported casualty numbers were significantly higher than their initial findings. No immediate comment was offered regarding the southern incidents.
Pope Appeals for Immediate End to Hostilities
Amid the escalating violence, Pope Leo XIV made a plea for peace. During his Angelus prayer from his summer residence near Rome, he called for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
New Evacuation Orders Spark Widespread Displacement
The Israeli military issued further evacuation orders on Sunday for Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, a region already overwhelmed with displaced civilians. Families were seen struggling to transport their meagre possessions as they fled the intense bombardment.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs described the order as yet another devastating blow to the already fragile lifelines keeping people alive across the Gaza Strip.
Iran Threatens to Withhold Security Commitments Over Sanctions
Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it may withdraw its security commitments if European nations trigger a UN mechanism to reintroduce international sanctions. A member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission, Abbas Moqtadaei, indicated that Tehran possessed various tools to retaliate.
We have many tools in our disposition. We can withhold our commitment to security in the region, Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait as well as other maritime areas.—Abbas Moqtadaei, Iranian parliamentary national security commission member
Moqtadaei’s comments precede crucial talks in Istanbul between Iranian diplomats and representatives from Britain, France, and Germany. These discussions aim to address Iran’s nuclear program, with the European trio threatening to reimpose sanctions if progress is not made.
The United Nations reported that in the past week, Gaza’s civil defence agency has documented a rise in infant deaths attributed to severe hunger and malnutrition. Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal stated these tragic deaths stemmed from starvation, a lack of formula, and inadequate healthcare, rather than direct conflict.
In Morocco, tens of thousands protested in Rabat, demanding an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling for the reversal of the kingdom’s normalization deal with Israel.
In Syria, relative calm returned to Sweida after Bedouin fighters reportedly withdrew from the Druze-majority city, following a ceasefire agreement.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, violence in Sweida province has claimed 1,120 lives since last week, including numerous Druze civilians and fighters.
The first humanitarian aid convoy reached Sweida on Sunday, carrying essential food, medical supplies, and fuel, marking a significant delivery amidst the ongoing unrest.
Iran is scheduled to hold new talks with European powers in Istanbul on Friday. These discussions come after a month marked by a US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and a warning from the E3 about potential sanctions.
Iranian authorities have also urged residents to conserve water due to severe shortages exacerbated by an ongoing heatwave, highlighting the country’s growing water scarcity challenges.
