At least 69 people have died and many others were injured while awaiting aid in Gaza over the past day, as U.S. representative Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel for truce negotiations.
On Wednesday night, large groups of people in need had assembled at the Zikim crossing near Israel, waiting for humanitarian supply trucks to enter the blockaded territory when gunfire broke out. Reports from Al-Saraya field hospital confirmed over 100 casualties, with expectations that the number of fatalities would increase, according to the Associated Press.
Early Thursday, 19 more individuals trying to access aid were killed by Israeli forces near distribution sites in central Gaza and Rafah in the south.
Gaza faces severe food shortages, as stated by experts on global hunger crises. Seven children succumbed to starvation on Wednesday, raising the total deaths from malnutrition to 154, local health officials reported.
As hunger conditions worsen, law and order have deteriorated. Desperate crowds, often in the hundreds, frequently wait for scarce aid trucks and overwhelm them upon arrival.
More than 1,000 people have been shot, mostly by Israeli forces, while attempting to secure assistance from the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) or waiting near border crossings.
International organizations emphasize that preventing chaotic aid distribution requires ensuring consistent and sufficient supplies reach Gaza. Israel, which regulates entry points for aid, faces accusations of restricting humanitarian access and contributing to the hunger crisis—claims it denies, along with rejecting reports of starvation in the territory.
Although Israel recently increased aid entry, humanitarian groups argue the changes fall short of addressing the hunger emergency and demand immediate, unrestricted aid access.
The UN’s humanitarian coordination office stated on Wednesday that the current food deliveries remain woefully inadequate.
Amid deepening hunger, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Local media reported discussions on stalled ceasefire negotiations, with Witkoff expected to visit a GHF location in Gaza.
Israel responded Wednesday to Hamas’ latest ceasefire proposal, which included a two-month pause in fighting and a hostage-prisoner exchange.
Later, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Hamas to surrender and free the remaining Israeli captives. The group currently holds around 50 hostages, with an estimated 20 still alive.
In an online post, Trump wrote: “The quickest way to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!”
He had earlier mentioned potential collaboration with Israel to establish new aid distribution points in Gaza but provided no further specifics.
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