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Egypt Independent
4 days ago
- Egypt Independent
At least 73 people seeking aid in Gaza killed by Israeli gunfire on Sunday, health ministry says
CNN — At least 73 people were killed and around 150 people injured by Israeli gunfire in Gaza while seeking aid on Sunday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Some 67 people were killed in northern Gaza, the ministry said, while six others were killed in Khan Younis in the south of the Strip. It is unclear whether the 67 people reported killed in northern Gaza were all killed in the same place or in multiple incidents. It marks one of the highest reported death tolls among recent, repeated cases in which aid seekers have been killed. The Israel Defense Forces said that troops had 'fired warning shots in order to remove an immediate threat posed to them' after 'a gathering of thousands of Gazans was identified in the northern Gaza Strip.' 'The IDF is aware of the claim regarding casualties in the area, and the details of the incident are still being examined,' the Israeli military said, without disclosing any casualty figures. The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) said a 25-truck convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed the Zikim border on Sunday morning aiming to reach communities in northern Gaza. 'Shortly after passing the final checkpoint beyond the Zikim crossing point into Gaza, the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians anxiously waiting to access desperately needed food supplies,' the WFP wrote on X. 'As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire.' Shooting near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions 'must stop immediately,' the WFP added, and said the latest incident 'underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza.' The Israeli military on Sunday also issued a warning to residents in a number of areas in northern Gaza, including the cities of Beit Lahia, Jabalya and Beit Hanoun. 'These areas are active combat zones and extremely dangerous,' the IDF's Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said Sunday. 'The Israel Defense Forces are operating in these areas with very intense force. For your safety, movement to these areas is strictly prohibited. Those who heard have been warned.' According to Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, people were shot at by the Israeli army on Sunday morning while attempting to get aid northwest of Gaza City, which is in the north of the enclave. 'Al-Shifa Medical Complex is in a catastrophic state due to the overwhelming number of martyrs, injuries and starving civilians,' Abu Salmiya told CNN in a statement. 'There have been a large number of deaths and injuries among those seeking aid, and ambulances and civilian vehicles have not stopped arriving, transporting the wounded and the dead from the northwestern areas of Gaza,' he continued. 'A significant number of civilians, and even medical staff, are arriving in a state of fainting or collapse due to severe malnutrition,' he said. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that its Al-Saraya Field Hospital in Gaza City received 120 injured people, some of them in critical condition, on Sunday. It said it also received two dead bodies. Palestinians gather as they carry aid supplies in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on July 20, 2025. Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters 'Israeli forces targeted civilians waiting for aid arriving from the Zikim area, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Due to the large number of casualties received by the hospital, new beds were urgently opened to ensure adequate treatment for the injured, as the hospital's capacity is estimated at only 68 beds,' the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Meanwhile, residents in the central Gaza city of Deir Al Balah said they were forced to evacuate on Sunday after the IDF dropped flyers warning them to leave the area. 'The planes came and dropped many leaflets on us; the entire sky was covered with leaflets on the houses, the streets and everywhere, stating that we had to evacuate from certain areas,' one resident, Thurayya Abu Qunneis, told CNN. 'We are living on edge. We can't sleep, eat or drink. There is no flour, no anything, and we are hungry,' she said. 'We are dying, and our children are dying of hunger.' Another resident, Mohammad Al Najiri, told CNN: 'We were sitting here in the morning when suddenly they sent us messages and warnings telling us to leave. Where should we go? There is no place to evacuate to… we don't know where to go.' Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said in a statement Sunday that Israel's evacuation orders 'endanger vital humanitarian and primary healthcare sites… and are accelerating the systematic dismantling of Gaza's already-decimated healthcare system,' adding that several humanitarian organizations' offices were 'ordered to evacuate immediately,' and nine clinics, five shelters and a community kitchen were forced to shut down amid the orders. In another incident on Saturday, at least 32 people were killed while seeking aid near a distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to the Palestinian health ministry and witnesses. The Israeli military said troops had 'identified suspects who approached them during operational activity in the Rafah area' about one kilometer from the aid site 'at night-time when it's not active.' The IDF said troops had called on the suspects 'to distance themselves, and after they did not comply, the troops fired warning shots.' It said it was aware of reports regarding casualties and the incident was under review. According to Gaza's Hamas-run Government Media Office, some 995 people have been killed while attempting to obtain food near aid distribution sites between May 27 and Sunday. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said earlier this month that nearly 800 Gazans had been killed trying to access aid between late May and July 7. CNN's Eugenia Yosef and Abeer Salman contributed to this report.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Gunshots rained down': 85 killed in Gaza on deadliest day yet for aid-seekers
'I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly' and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Israel's military said 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. Al-Waheidi said Israeli gunfire killed another six Palestinians in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah. The GHF said it was not aware of any incident near its site. Witnesses and health workers say several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group's aid distribution sites. Separately, seven Palestinians were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis in the south, including a five-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialised Field Hospital, which received the casualties. 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 on to carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren. The United Nations was in contact with Israeli authorities to clarify whether UN facilities in the south-western part of Deir al-Balah are included in the order, according to a different UN official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. The official said that in previous instances, UN facilities had been spared from such orders. The Medical Aid for Palestinians group said several humanitarian organisations' offices and guesthouses had been 'ordered to evacuate immediately' and nine clinics had been forced to shut down. Israel military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a 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. Earlier this month, Israel's military said it controlled more than 65 per cent of Gaza. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced numerous times. Ambulances in front of three major hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms simultaneously on Sunday in an urgent appeal as hunger grows. The Health Ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding signs about malnourished children and the lack of medication. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants have been killed but says more than half of the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organisation that represents many families of hostages, condemned the new evacuation order and demanded that Netanyahu and Israel's military explain what they hope to accomplish in central Gaza. 'Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,' the forum said. On Saturday night, during a weekly protest, tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv to the branch of the US embassy, demanding an end to the war.
The Age
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Gunshots rained down': 85 killed in Gaza on deadliest day yet for aid-seekers
'I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly' and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Israel's military said 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. Al-Waheidi said Israeli gunfire killed another six Palestinians in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah. The GHF said it was not aware of any incident near its site. Witnesses and health workers say several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group's aid distribution sites. Separately, seven Palestinians were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis in the south, including a five-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialised Field Hospital, which received the casualties. 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 on to carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren. The United Nations was in contact with Israeli authorities to clarify whether UN facilities in the south-western part of Deir al-Balah are included in the order, according to a different UN official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. The official said that in previous instances, UN facilities had been spared from such orders. The Medical Aid for Palestinians group said several humanitarian organisations' offices and guesthouses had been 'ordered to evacuate immediately' and nine clinics had been forced to shut down. Israel military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a 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. Earlier this month, Israel's military said it controlled more than 65 per cent of Gaza. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced numerous times. Ambulances in front of three major hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms simultaneously on Sunday in an urgent appeal as hunger grows. The Health Ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding signs about malnourished children and the lack of medication. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants have been killed but says more than half of the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organisation that represents many families of hostages, condemned the new evacuation order and demanded that Netanyahu and Israel's military explain what they hope to accomplish in central Gaza. 'Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,' the forum said. On Saturday night, during a weekly protest, tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv to the branch of the US embassy, demanding an end to the war.
Nahar Net
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Trump warns Gaza 'you are dead' if hostages not freed
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 March 2025, 10:43 U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee. The United States meanwhile confirmed unprecedented indirect talks with Hamas, which it proscribes as a "terrorist" group, focused on American hostages in Gaza. Strongly backing Israel as the ceasefire teeters, Trump said he was "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job" as his administration expedites billions of dollars in weapons. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," he wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance." Trump also warned of repercussions for Gaza as a whole, where virtually the entire population has been displaced by Israel's relentless military campaign in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!" His comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warning of "consequences that you cannot imagine" if Hamas does not hand over the remaining hostages seized in the October 7 attack. The first phase of a ceasefire ended over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm that included exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. While Israel has said it wants to extend the first phase until mid-April, Hamas has insisted on a transition to the second phase, which should lead to a lasting ceasefire. Israel has ramped up pressure not just with threats but also by halting the flow of goods and supplies into Gaza. "Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished," Israel's new military chief Eyal Zamir warned Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, France, Britain and Germany jointly called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "catastrophic," and urged Israel to ensure the "unhindered" delivery of aid. South Africa said Israel's restriction of aid into Gaza amounted to using starvation as a weapon of war. "We lack drinking water. People are complaining of lack of water in general. We cannot get rid of the waste, which affects the groundwater," Abu Hammam al-Hasanat, a 34-year-old who lives in the Gaza Strip, told AFP. - Talks with Hamas - Trump's hawkish language came after the United States confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, with the US envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, discussing American hostages. "Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the president" believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The United States had refused direct contact with the Palestinian militants since banning them as a terrorist organization in 1997. But Leavitt said that the hostage envoy "has the authority to talk to anyone." Both the White House and Netanyahu's office confirmed Israel was consulted in advance. Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages -- four have been confirmed dead and one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, most of them civilians, while Israel's military retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 48,440 people, also mostly civilians, data from both sides show. Of the 251 captives taken during Hamas' attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed are dead. In an interview on Wednesday night, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Hamas to take seriously Trump's threats of retaliation. "He doesn't say these things and not mean it, as folks are finding out around the world. If he says he's going to do something, he'll do it," Rubio said. - Doubts on Arab plan - Trump has floated a proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its people, an idea that has drawn wide condemnation around the world. Arab leaders have sought support for an alternative plan that would finance Gaza's reconstruction through a trust fund. The Arab summit also called for unified representation under the Palestine Liberation Organization to sideline Islamist Hamas. Hugh Lovatt at the European Council on Foreign Relations said the Arab leaders' plan was "far more realistic than what the Trump administration is proposing." But Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst and former Palestinian Authority minister, was skeptical. "It doesn't make sense to expect Israel to drop the plan of Trump and to adopt the plan of the Arabs. There's no chance." Speaking after a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza's future, French diplomat Jay Dharmadhikari said the final plan should neither allow Hamas to continue governing nor eject Palestinians. "We are clear that any plan must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israel's security, must not displace Palestinians from Gaza," he said.
