GAZA CITY: At least 18 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including civilians waiting to collect humanitarian aid, according to the territory’s civil defence agency.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in central Gaza, killing six people and wounding around 30 others. Additional strikes in central Gaza caused multiple casualties, he added.
Later in the day, a drone attack near Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed at least three more people and injured several others.
Aid Distribution Under Fire
Thousands of Palestinians gather daily at food distribution sites, including four operated by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since the foundation began operations in late May, there have been near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on civilians waiting for aid.
Severe Shortages and Escalating Operations
Nearly two years of Israeli restrictions on supplies entering Gaza have triggered severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, pushing hospitals to the brink as they struggle to power generators.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting domestic and international pressure to agree to a ceasefire that would both avert famine for Gaza’s more than two million residents and secure the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.
Despite the backlash — and rumours of dissent within Israel’s military leadership — the Israeli security cabinet on Friday approved plans for major operations to seize Gaza City, prompting global condemnation.
