Desperate scenes unfolded in Gaza today as dozens were killed and over 200 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds waiting for food aid distribution southwest of Gaza City. With the embattled enclave in the grip of an unprecedented hunger crisis, hundreds had gathered at al-Rashid Street in hopes of securing precious bags of flour for their starving families.
According to Palestinian authorities, at least 70 people lost their lives and a further 250 were injured in what they condemned as a ‘cold-blooded massacre.’ Israel has yet to comment. Distressing footage emerging from the scene shows bodies being loaded onto trucks as medical services struggle to reach the area.
“We went to get flour. The Israeli army shot at us. There are many martyrs on the ground and we’re still recovering them. There’s no first aid,” one witness told reporters, with another claiming tanks drove over the dead and wounded after opening fire.
Our correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul painted an apocalyptic picture from al-Rashid Street, saying “It is a massacre, on top of the starvation threatening citizens in Gaza.” Victims with gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries flooded hospitals already pushed to breaking point. With blood supplies critically low and ambulances unable to reach the area, the death toll is expected to rise.
One distraught Palestinian told a local TV network: “If this continues, we do not want any aid delivered at all. Every convoy coming means another massacre.”
Aid Delayed, Hunger Deepens
Tensions have been building over delayed aid deliveries, as Israel disputes claims it’s obstructing humanitarian access. Trucks carrying vital flour rations had arrived at the distribution point earlier that morning, attracting crowds desperate for relief. Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director, recently told the UN Security Council over 500,000 Gazans now face famine.
Skau described perilous conditions for aid workers trying to reach the north after Israel’s latest offensive against Hamas. Convoys faced violence and looting, overwhelming demand at distribution points, and lengthy delays at checkpoints. Rights groups insist Israel is in breach of an International Court of Justice order to facilitate aid.
With northern access cut off, many trek south on foot in search of food. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said on social media that calls to allow distributions have been ignored, warning of a ‘man-made disaster’. Over 30,000 Gazans have been killed in the violence since October, mostly women and children.
A Decades-Old Crisis
However, Gaza’s hunger emergency has deeper roots in 15 years of Israeli blockade and successive armed conflicts. The 141 square mile coastal enclave is home to 2 million Palestinians, described by the UN as suffering ‘locked in, locked out and locked down’.
Israel and Egypt tightly control the flow of people and goods in and out. Gazans require permits to leave, restricted by Israel citing security concerns. Critics charge the blockade amounts to illegal collective punishment.
Successive flareups between Hamas militants and Israel have battered Gaza’s infrastructure and economy. Unliveable conditions mean over half the population relies on food aid. The UN expects at least 1 million Gazans will be food insecure in 2023.
Hamas and its militant allies launch frequent rocket attacks at Israel, which responds with overwhelming force. Hostilities have escalated since Israel killed a senior militant last October. Gaza’s civilian population inevitably suffer the consequences.
Calls for Ceasefire
Diplomatic efforts are underway to deescalate tensions. However, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said a ceasefire deal is not yet close. The US is reportedly engaging with Egypt on a settlement, though former attempts have quickly collapsed.
With no political solution in sight, the humanitarian emergency in Gaza appears set to deepen. Local hospitals warn they are now overwhelmed and under-resourced, unable to cope with the flood of casualties from the latest violence.
For now, the cycle of armed confrontation, tighter restrictions, deeper aid dependency and mass suffering for Gaza’s population continues. Today’s horrifying scenes at al-Rashid Street are unlikely to be the last.
