At least 21 Palestinians, including 15 killed in a stampede and suffocation caused by tear gas, died at a US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution hub in Khan Younis, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry accused the Israeli army and the US of “deliberately” committing “massacres against the starving people in a systematic manner.”
A witness reported that tear gas fired at the crowd triggered mayhem, leading to the deadly stampede, consistent with hospital reports on the transferred cases.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees revealed that one in 10 children screened at its Gaza clinics is malnourished, driven by Israel’s ongoing siege, which has sparked a man-made starvation crisis.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that Israel’s war has killed at least 58,479 people and wounded 139,355, with 43 deaths across Gaza since dawn, including the 21 aid seekers.
Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, emphasized the dire situation: “Tragically, there are no other choices left for the hungry, displaced Palestinians,” who face forced starvation and dehydration under unbearable conditions.
The Israeli army’s newly established Magen Oz Corridor, bisecting Khan Younis, further isolates Palestinian communities, complicating ceasefire talks and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, noted that the corridor “cuts off several municipalities,” creating new facts on the ground and shrinking areas where Palestinians can live.
The GHF, criticized by the UN as setting up “death traps,” has seen over 870 Palestinians killed near its distribution sites since late May, underscoring the perilous conditions for aid seekers.