Gazans Killed Seeking Aid as Starvation Rises and Burial Shrouds Run Out
The 10 aid-seekers were killed in two separate incidents near aid distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), local medics said. More than 1,000 people have been killed trying to access GHF aid since the group began operating in May, according to the United Nations. Most deaths were reportedly caused by Israeli forces firing near the sites.
"Everyone who goes there, comes back either with a bag of flour or carried back as a martyr or injured. No one comes back safe," said Bilal Thari, a 40-year-old Palestinian mourner at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where bodies of those killed while seeking aid were being collected.
AID ACCESS REMAINS LIMITED
On Sunday, Gaza health officials said at least 13 Palestinians were killed at the Zikim crossing while waiting for UN aid trucks near the northern border with Israel.
Due to shortages of burial materials, bodies were wrapped in blankets instead of traditional Islamic shrouds, which Palestinians said had become scarce because of Israeli border restrictions and rising casualties.
"We don't want war, we want peace... women are out there on the streets, we have nothing available for us to live a normal life like all human beings," Thari said.
The Israeli military said it had not fired earlier Monday in the vicinity of the southern Gaza aid distribution centre but did not address Sunday's incident directly.
Israel says it is taking steps to improve aid flow, including pausing military operations in some areas during parts of the day, conducting air drops, and setting up protected routes for aid convoys.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his security cabinet this week to discuss the next phase of the military operation, reiterating Israel's goals of defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
STARVATION DEATHS MOUNT
Gaza's health ministry reported five additional deaths from starvation or malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 180 since the conflict began, including 93 children.
UN agencies warn that air drops are insufficient to prevent a potential famine and stress that Israel must accelerate land access for aid.
Israel's military agency COGAT said over the past week, more than 23,000 tonnes of aid in 1,200 trucks entered Gaza, though hundreds of those trucks remain undelivered due to logistical and security issues faced by UN and international partners.
Later on Monday, Israel's military reported that 120 food aid packages were dropped into Gaza 'over the past few hours' by six different countries, in coordination with COGAT.
The Hamas-run Gaza government said more than 600 aid trucks have entered since Israel eased restrictions in late July. However, many have reportedly been looted by desperate civilians and armed groups, according to witnesses and Hamas sources.
Palestinian and UN officials estimate Gaza needs around 600 trucks of aid per day, matching pre-war levels, to meet basic humanitarian needs.
The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza's health authorities say more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent offensive.
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AsiaOne
6 hours ago
- AsiaOne
More Gazans die seeking aid and from hunger; burial shrouds in short supply, World News
CAIRO/GAZA — At least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Gaza on Monday (Aug 4), including 10 seeking aid, health authorities said, adding another five had died of starvation in what humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine. The 10 died in two separate incidents near aid sites belonging to the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in central and southern Gaza, local medics said. The United Nations says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave since the GHF began operating in May 2025, most of them shot by Israeli forces operating near GHF sites. The GHF said there were no incidents at or near their sites on Monday. Reuters was unable to verify where the incidents took place. Bilal Thari, 40, was among mourners at Gaza City's Al Shifa hospital on Monday who had gathered to collect the bodies of Palestinians killed a day earlier by Israeli fire as they sought aid, Gaza health officials said. "Everyone who goes there, comes back either with a bag of flour or carried back (on a wooden stretcher) as a martyr, or injured. No one comes back safe," Thari said. At least 13 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while waiting for the arrival of UN aid trucks at the Zikim crossing on the Israeli border with the northern Gaza Strip, the officials said. At the hospital, some bodies were wrapped in thick patterned blankets because white shrouds, which hold special significance in Islamic burials, were in short supply due to continued Israeli border restrictions and the mounting number of daily deaths, Palestinians said. "We don't want war, we want peace, we want this misery to end. We are out on the streets, we all are hungry, we are all in bad shape, women are out there on the streets, we have nothing available for us to live a normal life like all human beings, there's no life," Thari said. There was no immediate comment by Israel on Sunday's incident. The Israeli military said in a statement to Reuters that it had not fired earlier on Monday in the vicinity of the aid distribution centre in the southern Gaza Strip. It did not elaborate further. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach its population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, allowing airdrops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would convene his security cabinet this week to discuss how the military should proceed in Gaza to meet all his government's war goals, which include defeating Hamas and releasing the hostages. Deaths from hunger Meanwhile, five more people died of starvation or malnutrition over the last 24 hours, Gaza's health ministry said on Monday. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from hunger to 180, including 93 children, since the war began. UN agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and quickly ease access to it. Cogat, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said that during the last week, over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by UN and other international organisations. Israel's military later said 120 aid packages containing food had been dropped into Gaza "over the past few hours" by six different countries in collaboration with Cogat. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that more than 600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions in late July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. Palestinian and UN officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet the humanitarian requirements — the number Israel used to allow into Gaza before the war. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in an attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offencive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. [[nid:720926]]
CNA
13 hours ago
- CNA
Gaza Aid Deaths Mount as Netanyahu Mulls Expanding Offensive
GAZA CITY: At least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and airstrikes in Gaza on Monday (Aug 4), including 10 who died while seeking humanitarian aid, health authorities in the enclave said. Another five reportedly died of starvation as hunger and chaos mount across the territory. The 10 aid-seekers were killed in two separate incidents near aid distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), local medics said. More than 1,000 people have been killed trying to access GHF aid since the group began operating in May, according to the United Nations. Most deaths were reportedly caused by Israeli forces firing near the sites. "Everyone who goes there, comes back either with a bag of flour or carried back as a martyr or injured. No one comes back safe," said Bilal Thari, a 40-year-old Palestinian mourner at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where bodies of those killed while seeking aid were being collected. AID ACCESS REMAINS LIMITED On Sunday, Gaza health officials said at least 13 Palestinians were killed at the Zikim crossing while waiting for UN aid trucks near the northern border with Israel. Due to shortages of burial materials, bodies were wrapped in blankets instead of traditional Islamic shrouds, which Palestinians said had become scarce because of Israeli border restrictions and rising casualties. "We don't want war, we want peace... women are out there on the streets, we have nothing available for us to live a normal life like all human beings," Thari said. The Israeli military said it had not fired earlier Monday in the vicinity of the southern Gaza aid distribution centre but did not address Sunday's incident directly. Israel says it is taking steps to improve aid flow, including pausing military operations in some areas during parts of the day, conducting air drops, and setting up protected routes for aid convoys. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would convene his security cabinet this week to discuss how to instruct the military to meet Israel's war goals in Gaza. 'We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,' Netanyahu said at the outset of a regular cabinet meeting. Israel's Channel 12 cited an official from his office as saying Netanyahu was leaning toward expanding the offensive and seizing the entire Palestinian enclave. The security cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday to decide on the next steps. STARVATION DEATHS MOUNT Gaza's health ministry reported five additional deaths from starvation or malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 180 since the conflict began, including 93 children. UN agencies warn that air drops are insufficient to prevent a potential famine and stress that Israel must accelerate land access for aid. Israel's military agency COGAT said over the past week, more than 23,000 tonnes of aid in 1,200 trucks entered Gaza, though hundreds of those trucks remain undelivered due to logistical and security issues faced by UN and international partners. Later on Monday, Israel's military reported that 120 food aid packages were dropped into Gaza 'over the past few hours' by six different countries, in coordination with COGAT. The Hamas-run Gaza government said more than 600 aid trucks have entered since Israel eased restrictions in late July. However, many have reportedly been looted by desperate civilians and armed groups, according to witnesses and Hamas sources. Palestinian and UN officials estimate Gaza needs around 600 trucks of aid per day, matching pre-war levels, to meet basic humanitarian needs. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza's health authorities say more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent offensive.
CNA
16 hours ago
- CNA
Gazans Killed Seeking Aid as Starvation Rises and Burial Shrouds Run Out
GAZA CITY: At least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and airstrikes in Gaza on Monday (Aug 4), including 10 who died while seeking humanitarian aid, health authorities in the enclave said. Another five reportedly died of starvation as hunger and chaos mount across the territory. The 10 aid-seekers were killed in two separate incidents near aid distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), local medics said. More than 1,000 people have been killed trying to access GHF aid since the group began operating in May, according to the United Nations. Most deaths were reportedly caused by Israeli forces firing near the sites. "Everyone who goes there, comes back either with a bag of flour or carried back as a martyr or injured. No one comes back safe," said Bilal Thari, a 40-year-old Palestinian mourner at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where bodies of those killed while seeking aid were being collected. AID ACCESS REMAINS LIMITED On Sunday, Gaza health officials said at least 13 Palestinians were killed at the Zikim crossing while waiting for UN aid trucks near the northern border with Israel. Due to shortages of burial materials, bodies were wrapped in blankets instead of traditional Islamic shrouds, which Palestinians said had become scarce because of Israeli border restrictions and rising casualties. "We don't want war, we want peace... women are out there on the streets, we have nothing available for us to live a normal life like all human beings," Thari said. The Israeli military said it had not fired earlier Monday in the vicinity of the southern Gaza aid distribution centre but did not address Sunday's incident directly. Israel says it is taking steps to improve aid flow, including pausing military operations in some areas during parts of the day, conducting air drops, and setting up protected routes for aid convoys. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his security cabinet this week to discuss the next phase of the military operation, reiterating Israel's goals of defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages. STARVATION DEATHS MOUNT Gaza's health ministry reported five additional deaths from starvation or malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 180 since the conflict began, including 93 children. UN agencies warn that air drops are insufficient to prevent a potential famine and stress that Israel must accelerate land access for aid. Israel's military agency COGAT said over the past week, more than 23,000 tonnes of aid in 1,200 trucks entered Gaza, though hundreds of those trucks remain undelivered due to logistical and security issues faced by UN and international partners. Later on Monday, Israel's military reported that 120 food aid packages were dropped into Gaza 'over the past few hours' by six different countries, in coordination with COGAT. The Hamas-run Gaza government said more than 600 aid trucks have entered since Israel eased restrictions in late July. However, many have reportedly been looted by desperate civilians and armed groups, according to witnesses and Hamas sources. Palestinian and UN officials estimate Gaza needs around 600 trucks of aid per day, matching pre-war levels, to meet basic humanitarian needs. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza's health authorities say more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent offensive.
