UPDATE: Israeli forces have killed at least 115 Palestinians in Gaza amid a desperate humanitarian crisis, as families face unprecedented starvation. This tragic incident, one of the deadliest targeting aid seekers since May 2023, underscores the dire situation as hunger-related deaths continue to escalate.
On Sunday, October 15, 2023, Israeli strikes hit crowds near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, where individuals were gathering for critical food aid. Reports confirm that 67 people died in this attack alone. Another six were killed at a separate distribution site in southern Gaza, adding to the mounting toll of over 900 deaths linked to food relief access since May.
Eyewitness Ahmed Hassouna described the chaos as Israeli forces opened fire. “There was a young man with me, and they started firing gas at us. They killed us with the gas. We barely made it out to catch a breath,” he recounted to Al Jazeera.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) condemned the violence, stating that any aggression against civilians seeking humanitarian aid is “completely unacceptable.” A convoy of 25 trucks carrying essential supplies was fired upon shortly after entering Gaza, further complicating the already critical situation.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, highlighted that sufficient food supplies are available just kilometers away but remain blocked by Israeli forces since March 2. “All man-made, in total impunity,” he noted on social media, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the situation in Gaza is reaching catastrophic levels, with children suffering from severe malnutrition. “People are risking their lives just to find food,” an OCHA statement declared, calling the conditions “unconscionable.”
Dr. Mohammed Abu Afash of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society described the dire plight of women and children, stating, “Malnutrition among children has reached its highest levels.” Reports indicate that at least 71 children have died from malnutrition since the conflict escalated in 2023.
As food prices soar beyond reach for many, families are left with no choice but to risk their lives to access basic supplies. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported the heartbreaking story of a mother who could only provide water to her starving children, saying, “I am sorry I could not feed you.”
Meanwhile, the crisis worsens as more Palestinians are forced to evacuate. Following evacuation threats from Israeli forces, residents of Deir el-Balah reported airstrikes on homes, forcing families to flee with minimal possessions. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud described the situation as a “misleading evacuation order,” with supposed safe zones proving to be anything but safe.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the ongoing violence against aid seekers, with national executive director Nihad Awad stating, “The escalating massacres of starving Palestinian women, children, and men… is not only a human tragedy but also an indictment of a Western political order that has enabled this genocide.”
With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifying, the world watches as the plight of the Palestinians continues to unfold. The urgent need for aid and intervention has never been more critical, as families struggle to survive amid violence and starvation.
