More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza over the past 48 hours, with the Gaza Government Media Office reporting that Israeli forces conducted “26 bloody massacres” during this period.
At least 118 deaths and 581 injuries were recorded in the last 24 hours alone, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Among the casualties, 73 people were killed since dawn, including 33 individuals seeking aid at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, a controversial initiative backed by Israel and the United States.
Specific attacks included 13 deaths in a strike on a tent in al-Mawasi and 16 at Mustafa Hafez School, a shelter for displaced people west of Gaza City, as reported by medical sources.
The GHF’s aid distribution has become a flashpoint, with reports of US contractors using live ammunition and stun grenades against Palestinians scrambling for food.
The Gaza Government Media Office noted that attacks targeted civilians in shelters, homes, markets, and aid sites, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
“People described scenes of horror as they wait for hours just hoping to get their hands on basic food supplies, only to be met with sudden and unprovoked gunfire,” said Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah.
Since late May, over 650 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 4,000 wounded while seeking aid at GHF sites, prompting over 130 humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam and Amnesty International, to demand the program’s closure, citing routine attacks on civilians.
Amid the bloodshed, ceasefire negotiations remain precarious.
Hamas is reviewing a proposed 60-day truce but insists on an agreement ensuring Israel’s withdrawal and an end to the war.
US President Donald Trump has pressed both sides to finalize the deal, stating Israel has agreed to terms.
However, tensions persist, with Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating for blocking aid.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has called for investigations into the killings at GHF sites, emphasizing the need for UN-led aid distribution to ensure safety and scale.
As violence continues, the prospect of a lasting ceasefire hangs in the balance, with Gaza’s humanitarian landscape deteriorating rapidly.