Gaza Aid Tragedy: 15 Dead After Troops Open Fire on Starving Crowd

At least 15 Palestinians lost their lives after coming under Israeli fire near a humanitarian aid center in central Gaza, according to hospital sources. 

The incident occurred close to a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by both Israel and the United States. The facility is located inside the Israeli military-controlled Netzarim Corridor.

Medical staff at al-Aqsa and al-Awda hospitals reported treating victims of gunfire allegedly from Israeli troops. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that soldiers opened fire after perceiving a potential threat and issued warning shots. Additionally, one individual who reportedly advanced quickly towards the troops was targeted in an airstrike.

The military clarified that the GHF aid center had been officially closed until Sunday, which may not have been known to many in Gaza due to a widespread internet blackout lasting over 48 hours. The digital outage has compounded difficulties in communication and further complicated aid distribution efforts.

Thousands of desperate residents have been camping near known aid centers—one in the Netzarim Corridor and three others located further south—in hopes of securing scarce food parcels when the centers reopen. The suspension of both aid and digital access has pushed Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis closer to the brink.

In a separate but related incident on Saturday, 12 people were reportedly shot and killed near Gaza City's coastal road as they waited for an expected aid convoy. The IDF has stated that it is reviewing these reports.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry claims that at least 29 individuals have died while attempting to access aid over the past 48 hours. Since the GHF began its distribution operations two weeks ago, the death toll linked to aid-seeking incidents has reportedly risen to 274.