Israel-Hamas War: 85 Palestinians killed while seeking food, evacuation orders issued in Central Gaza
There was a new alarm as Israel's military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located, the agency said.
The highest death toll was reported in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department, told The Associated Press.
The UN World Food Program said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds.
A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity with AP, said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to take food from the convoy.
'Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,' Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and said he hadn't eaten bread in 15 days, told AP.
Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly', and he saw his cousin and others shot dead.
AP quoted Israel's military saying soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. But it said the numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found. It accused Hamas militants of creating chaos.
More than 150 people were wounded, some in critical condition, hospitals said.
The new evacuation orders cut access between the central city of Deir al-Balah and Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow territory. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza.
Palestinians were startled to see the orders for parts of Deir al-Balah, a relative haven. "All of Rafah is under evacuation, and now you have decided that half of Deir al-Balah is under evacuation. Where will we move to?' asked resident Hassan Abu Azab, as others piled everything from bedding to live ducks onto carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren.
Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp with little infrastructure on Gaza's southern coast that Israel's military has designated a humanitarian zone.
The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel's military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations.
Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory, AO said
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"Prevent Dying Of Starvation": Barack Obama On Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
Former US President Barack Obama on Monday called for immediate action to stop what he described as the "preventable" starvation in Gaza amid the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Strip. "While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel's military operations, these articles underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation," Obama said, linking to a US media article. He asserted that aid "must be permitted" to reach the people in the Gaza Strip. "There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families," the former US President said. While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel's military operations, these articles underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation.… — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 27, 2025 The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Sunday warned that the malnutrition rates are reaching "alarming levels" in Gaza, adding the "deliberate blocking" of aid was entirely preventable and had cost many lives. Out of the 74 recorded malnutrition-related deaths this year, 63 had occurred in July - including 24 children under five, one child aged over five, and 38 adults, it said. According to WHO, nearly one in five children in Gaza is now acutely malnourished, and the percentage of children aged four to six years suffering from acute malnutrition has tripled in the city since June, making it the worst-hit area in the Palestinian territory. Food experts have also warned for months the risk of famine in Gaza - where Israel restricted aid to the population of over 2 million, saying that Hamas "siphons off" goods to help bolster its rule. 10-Hour Tactical Pause The Israeli military on Sunday began a limited pause in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day amid growing concerns over surging hunger and global criticism over its 21-month war. Calling it a "tactical pause", the Israeli military said it would increase the humanitarian aid flow entering the territory. The pause runs from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily until further notice. "Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Video: Jordanian, Emirati Planes Drop 25 Tonnes Of Food Over Gaza As Hunger Crisis Worsens
Last Updated: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate, following 21 months of war compounded by a full Israeli blockade of aid deliveries from March to May. As Israel began a limited 'tactical pause" in some military operations, Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday. The pause was announced to allow the UN and aid agencies to operate amid the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate, following 21 months of war compounded by a full Israeli blockade of aid deliveries from March to May. Although restrictions have eased, the volume of humanitarian assistance reaching the Palestinian territory remains significantly below what international aid agencies deem necessary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected responsibility for the worsening conditions in Gaza, instead directing criticism at the United Nations. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has denied accusations that it is using starvation as a weapon, stating that it has worked in coordination with the UN and other international organisations to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip." Despite these assertions, the situation on the ground remains critical. The World Health Organisation (WHO) raised fresh alarms on Sunday, reporting that malnutrition in Gaza has reached 'alarming levels." According to WHO data, of the 74 malnutrition-related deaths documented in 2025, 63 occurred in July alone. Among the dead were 24 children under the age of five, one child over five, and 38 adults. 'Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting," the UN health agency said. WHO also emphasised that the worsening conditions were 'entirely preventable," adding: 'Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health and humanitarian aid has cost many lives." The World Food Programme (WFP) painted an equally grim picture, estimating that a third of Gaza's population had gone without food for days. The agency said 470,000 people were 'enduring famine-like conditions." UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher acknowledged Israel's implementation of tactical pauses in fighting and said UN teams would make every effort to deliver aid during these intervals. 'We will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," Fletcher said. (With inputs from AFP) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
‘Slow destruction of humanity': Doctor speaks on hunger crisis in Gaza as Israel denies ‘starvation' claims
The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it would implement a daily pause in operations in parts of Gaza and open new aid corridors, following months of international pressure over a growing hunger crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Global concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza has strengthened, especially after Israel and the US appeared to step away from ceasefire talks with Hamas on Friday, stating that the group had made it clear it was not interested in reaching a deal. Aid organisations said last week that severe hunger is widespread among Gaza's 2.2 million residents, with food supplies running critically low after Israel halted all deliveries in March. Though aid resumed in May, it came with tighter restrictions. Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, deputy medical coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), explained that within the first six to 24 hours without food, the body starts consuming its glycogen stores for energy. In an Instagram video, Mughaisib said, 'For the past months, I have been surviving on one meal per day. And in the last few days, I have even had only one meal every two days. Not because I cannot afford it, but because there is nothing to buy. The markets are completely empty. We are expected to save lives while our own are slowly being consumed. This is not just about hunger, but about the slow destruction of life, ability, and humanity.' According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas, dozens have recently died due to malnutrition. Since the conflict began, a total of 127 people, among them 85 children, have died from hunger-related causes. EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A morgue worker shows journalists the body of 5-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Halib, who died from malnutrition-related causes, according to Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, before her funeral, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga) Israel has denied that starvation is occurring in Gaza, saying the aid suspension was intended to increase pressure on Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. After allowing aid into Gaza in May, Israel claimed there was sufficient food in the territory but accused the United Nations of failing to distribute it properly. In response, the UN stated it was doing its best under the constraints imposed by Israeli restrictions. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly assault in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. In the months since, Israel's military campaign against Hamas has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. The offensive has devastated much of Gaza and displaced nearly its entire population. (With inputs from agencies)
