At least 49 killed by Israel while seeking food, hundreds more wounded
Gaza's Health Ministry says hospitals have received 49 people who were killed by Israeli while trying to access humanitarian aid in the past 24 hours.
It also reports 197 wounded while trying to seek aid, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed by Israel while seeking food or other essentials to 516, with more than 3,799 wounded.
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Report: Israeli attacks kill nine Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza
Nine Palestinians were killed and several others injured while waiting for aid near the Netzarim junction in central Gaza, according to medical sources at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospitals, as reported by Al Jazeera Arabic. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly attacks near aid distribution sites set up late last month by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a mechanism backed by Israel and the United States. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has previously described the initiative as a 'death trap'.
Middle East Eye
18 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
'Catastrophic': Infants in Gaza battle to stay alive amid formula shortage
With the glass of an incubator separating them, Ghadeer al-Koubtan looks at her baby, who has been in intensive care for the past three days. Koubtan reaches through the porthole of the incubator and gently touches her daughter's head, which is small enough to fit in her palm. Ghandoura Ibrahim al-Faraa was born prematurely at less than eight months gestation and suffers - alongside her mother and others in Gaza - from malnutrition. She tells Middle East Eye that early birth was inevitable due to multiple nutrient deficiencies brought on by hunger, including a lack of calcium. 'There's no milk or anything that would help get my daughter healthy or even myself,' she says. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters For over eight months, the Israeli military has imposed a tight siege on the Gaza Strip, severely limiting the flow of life-saving essential food and medical items into the Palestinian territory. Dr Asaad Nawajha, a paediatric specialist at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, tells MEE that the war has increased the number of children born prematurely, with a significant rise in babies born with defects. War on Gaza: Mothers struggle to feed babies as Israeli-made starvation returns Read More » 'This all goes back to the [harsh] conditions mothers endure amid this vicious war on the Gaza Strip.' Speaking about breastfeeding, the paediatric specialist says that while they are encouraged to feed their children naturally, mothers themselves face a variety of health concerns, including malnutrition, which prevents them from feeding their babies. 'Due to the lack of nutritious items entering the Gaza Strip, both mothers and children have been exposed to illnesses resulting from malnutrition." Dr Yasser Abu Ghalee, head of the children's section at the Nasser Hospital, says that most premature babies were in need of immediate attention after birth. 'Most of the premature babies are brought to the incubator section [of the hospital], and we are trying as much as possible for these children because they are patients in the hospital,' he adds. Abu Ghalee explains that formula supplies are nearly depleted for babies placed in intensive care, and that there is none available for those not being directly treated. According to the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza, the few remaining operational health facilities in the besieged enclave are under severe threat due to a lack of medical supplies, continued forced expulsion orders and ongoing shelling. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, James Elder, spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef), highlighted the severe shortages facing hospitals in Gaza and the extremely difficult conditions under which medical staff are operating. The Unicef spokesperson warned that children experiencing acute malnutrition are particularly vulnerable and have a "likelihood of dying from simple causes by 10 times". He adds that access to hospitals in Gaza is no longer safe for ill or malnourished children. Israeli siege and rising prices Expressing frustration with the lack of supplies for vulnerable children in Gaza, Koubtan says she is trying not let the situation get the better of her. 'They [doctors] told me don't hold too much hope, there's nothing nutritious, there's nothing, the girl is too sick. I pray to God she's let out [of treatment] and stays in good health,' she says. Koubtan adds that even if she manages to find a can of baby formula, it would cost upwards of 300 shekels ($88). 'I tried to look, but there's nothing left.' According to Abu Ghalee: 'Children within the Gaza Strip, including healthy children, are suffering from extreme lack of baby formula. It is out of stock in both the private and public sector." Not even cow's milk is around in appropriate quantities, he notes, with those found in stores costing upwards of 200 shekel ($59). 'The situation, to be honest, is catastrophic. Catastrophic in every sense of the word,' the doctor said. An infant lies in an incubator at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza (MEE/Ahmed Aziz) For nearly two years, alongside the relentless bombardments and deliberate targeting of hospitals, the Israeli military has used starvation of the population as a weapon of war, according to independent UN investigators. The crisis peaked in March, with dozens of children dying of malnutrition and residents being forced to eat grass. Under mounting international pressure, Israel 'slightly' improved food access in some areas after its forces killed several foreign aid workers and a UN-backed report warned famine was imminent. But now, Israeli authorities are once again restricting life-saving food deliveries. A US-Israeli run food distribution programme, kills dozens of Palestinians seeking aid every day. Crowds gather at aid distribution points only to be shot at by Israeli soldiers and mercenaries hired to secure staff there. Unlike the UN-run system it was designed to replace, the US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) coordinates its operations closely with the Israeli government. Hopelessness Abu Ghalee has called on international organisations and rights groups for help in securing formula from aid distribution and delivery. However, these demands have not been met. 'Our message is clear. We have been urging for months… starvation is happening amongst mothers… At the very least, baby formula should be in stock. I am unsure where humanity resides anymore. 'Starvation is happening amongst mothers… At the very least, baby formula should be in stock. I am unsure where humanity resides anymore' - Dr Yasser Abu Ghalee 'Our message is at least for corridors to be opened and bringing in baby formula, there should be a sense of civilisation and humanity at the very least.' A frustrated Koubtan expresses fears about what the future may hold. 'What can I say when I see my daughter right in front of me, and I can't hold her, or smell her or carry her in my arms, how do you think I would feel? 'After all the pain and suffering we endured, at the end, we can't even experience the joy of being with our children 'All we want is for the children to be helped… They have no fault in this war or anything else.'
Middle East Eye
20 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Gaza death toll tops 56,000 as Israel continues to strike the besieged Strip
The death toll in Gaza since 7 October 2023 has now reached 56,077, with 131,848 wounded, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Tuesday. Since 18 March 2025 alone, 5,759 Palestinians have been killed and 19,807 wounded, the ministry added.
