Israeli Forces Fire on Aid-Seekers in Gaza, Killing 47 Civilians

Israeli military actions on June 18 resulted in the deaths of 47 Palestinians, including 11 individuals waiting for humanitarian aid, across multiple locations in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza medical officials reported that strikes and gunfire struck civilians lined up along roads such as Salahuddin and areas near the Netzarim corridor while awaiting food assistance. The overall Gaza-wide toll reached 47 fatalities due to these events, with many wounded among the crowd.

Aid distribution in Gaza resumed in late May, but scenes of trucks stopped at supply points have repeatedly turned lethal. In recent weeks, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed or injured while seeking aid from facilities backed by NGOs or the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Witnesses described Israeli forces “firing on unarmed civilians” while queues extended into densely populated zones. Officials suggest Israel employed warning shots that escalated into fatal incidents.

The UN, along with international aid organizations, has called for an immediate investigation and deployment of peacekeepers to ensure that food delivery does not become a trigger for violence. The evolving situation raises urgent concerns over Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis, as basic survival becomes increasingly dangerous.