Israeli forces kill 60 in Gaza, half near aid centres
Gaza's civil defence agency said 31 Palestinian aid seekers were among at least 60 people killed on Friday (June 20, 2025) by Israeli forces, the latest in a string of deadly incidents near aid distribution sites.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that five people were killed while waiting for aid in the southern Gaza Strip and 26 others near a central area known as the Netzarim corridor, an Israeli-controlled strip of land that bisects the Palestinian territory.
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered there daily in the hope of receiving food rations, as famine looms across Gaza after more than 20 months of war.
The Israeli army said its troops in the Netzarim area had first fired "warning shots" at "suspects" approaching them.
When the individuals continued advancing, "an aircraft struck and eliminated the suspects in order to remove the threat," the army said.
Similar incidents have occurred in that area regularly since late May, when the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation opened its distribution centres, as Israel eased a two-month aid blocakde.
The privately run foundation's operations in Gaza have been marred by chaotic scenes. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
Elsewhere in the territory on Friday, Bassal said 14 people were killed in two separate strikes in and around the central city of Deir el-Balah, and 13 others in three Israeli air strikes in the Gaza City area.
One of those strikes, which killed three people, hit a phone charging station in the city, Bassal said.
In southern Gaza, two people were killed "by Israeli gunfire" in two separate incidents, he added.
Israeli restrictions on media in the Gaza Strip and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.
The armed wing of Palestinian miliant group, Al-Quds Brigades, said on Friday it had targeted an Israeli military post in the southern city of Khan Yunis, claiming "dead and wounded" Israeli troops as a result.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not comment.
Much of Khan Yunis, like vast areas across Gaza, is under Israeli military evacuation orders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil case: Federal judge orders release of pro-Palestinian activist; freed after three months in detention
A federal judge on Friday ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention after spending more than three months in custody. Khalil was detained in early March as the Trump administration sought to deport him over his alleged involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The decision was announced by US District Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey, following a request from Khalil's legal team to grant him bail or relocate him from Louisiana to New Jersey to be near his wife and newborn child, according to the Associated Press. Khalil's arrest marked the first under Trump's initiative against students involved in campus protests regarding Israel's military actions in Gaza. His prominent role in Columbia's pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year led to protests in New York and Washington, DC. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has advocated for Khalil's expulsion, saying Khalil's activism poses 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.' Judge Farbiarz had previously ruled that the government could not continue detaining Mahmoud Khalil based on his role in pro-Palestinian protests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo However, officials later argued that Khalil, a legal US resident, was being held for allegedly providing false information on his green card application — a claim Khalil firmly denies. Khalil was arrested on March 8 at his Manhattan apartment in connection with his participation in the campus demonstrations. Khalil says he did nothing wrong and did not hide anything on his green card application. He told the court he only did a university-approved internship with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and was not an officer, as the government claims. Khalil was not arrested during the Columbia protests and has not been accused of any crimes. His public presence at the demonstrations drew attention from critics and the White House, which accused him of 'siding with terrorists' without providing evidence.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Israel-Iran News Live Updates: Iran FM says ready to 'consider' diplomacy 'once the aggression is stopped'
US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States had taken "complete and total control of the skies over Iran." He further warned Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei saying that "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The long-simmering tensions between Israel and Iran have exploded into open warfare since Friday, June 13, 2025, marking an unprecedented period of direct military confrontation. Israel initiated a major campaign of fighter jet and drone strikes across Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites, including surface-to-surface missile production facilities, detection radar sites, and surface-to-air missile launchers. Reports indicate strikes on residential areas and fuel depots, with Iran's health ministry reporting at least 224 fatalities and over 1,200 injuries, mostly civilians. Israeli forces have also reportedly killed several top Iranian military commanders and atomic scientists. The IDF claims to have destroyed one-third of Iran's surface-to-surface missile launchers and achieved "full air superiority over Tehran," also striking an Iranian refueling aircraft 2,300 km away. In retaliation, Tehran has launched barrages of missiles and drones, hitting Israeli cities and towns, causing at least 24 deaths and 592 injuries, with a major oil refinery in Haifa among the targets. The IDF confirmed intercepting over 100 Iranian UAVs. The international community, including China, Turkey, and G7 leaders, has urgently called for de-escalation, but both sides remain defiant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts the offensive aims to thwart "existential" nuclear and missile threats and has not ruled out targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting it would "end the conflict." The UN's IAEA reported physical damage to an above-ground component of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility but normal external radiation levels, while warning of potential internal contamination. Amidst the crisis, planned nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington were called off.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Judge orders release of Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil from US detention
A federal judge has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday. Khalil has been held since early March as the Trump administration tried to deport him over his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. He was the first student arrested under President Donald Trump's efforts to remove students who took part in campus protests against Israel's military action in Gaza. US District Judge Michael Farbiarz announced his decision in a New Jersey court, AP said. The judge said Khalil should be freed after his lawyers asked either for his release on bail or for him to be moved from a Louisiana jail to New Jersey so he could be closer to his wife and newborn son. 'The government cannot continue to hold Mr Khalil on these grounds,' Judge Farbiarz said, according to AP. The government argued that Khalil, a legal US resident, was being held because he allegedly lied on his green card application. Khalil denies this, saying he answered truthfully. Khalil was detained on 8 March at his home in Manhattan. His lawyers say his arrest is part of an effort to limit free speech. AP said he is not accused of breaking any laws during the protests at Columbia. Khalil, who was studying international affairs, acted as a spokesperson and negotiator for the student protesters. He was not among those arrested at the demonstrations, but his public role drew attention. According to AP, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Khalil's presence in the US could harm foreign policy. The Trump administration has said it wants to expel noncitizens who take part in such protests, claiming their views are antisemitic.
