48 Killed in Gaza Aid Crossing Incident

At least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded on Wednesday while waiting for food at the Zikim Crossing in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, as violence surrounding aid distribution escalated amid worsening famine conditions and ongoing conflict.

The casualties were among large crowds gathered at the main aid entry point for northern Gaza. Footage from the Associated Press showed people carrying bags of flour and others transporting the wounded in wooden carts. It remains unclear who opened fire, and the Israeli military, which controls the crossing, has not commented on the incident.

Al-Saraya Field Hospital reported receiving over 100 dead and injured individuals, and Fares Awad, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency services, said the death toll could rise as bodies were taken to multiple hospitals.

Earlier, Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 46 Palestinians overnight and into Wednesday, primarily among those searching for food, Gaza health officials reported. In addition, seven more, including a child, died from malnutrition-related causes.

U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who has led the Trump administration's efforts to end the 22-month conflict and secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack, is set to arrive in Israel on Thursday for talks.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the top international authority on hunger crises, has not formally declared famine in Gaza but warned Tuesday of “widespread death” without immediate action. The IPC said the humanitarian situation has dramatically worsened and described it as a “worst-case scenario of famine.”

In response to mounting global pressure, Israel announced measures over the weekend to increase aid entry into Gaza. However, only 220 trucks were allowed in on Tuesday, far short of the 500–600 trucks per day that U.N. agencies say are needed. During a six-week ceasefire earlier this year, aid reached that level.

The United Nations continues to face major challenges in distributing the limited aid that enters Gaza. Many trucks are intercepted by desperate crowds in areas controlled by the Israeli military. The alternative aid distribution system managed by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has also seen repeated violence.

Since May, over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid, mostly near GHF-operated distribution sites, according to witnesses, local health officials, and the U.N. human rights office. The Israeli military claims it only fires warning shots, and GHF states its contractors use pepper spray or warning shots to prevent dangerous crowding.

International airdrops have resumed, but many aid parcels land in evacuation zones or fall into the Mediterranean Sea. Palestinians have been seen swimming out to retrieve waterlogged bags of flour.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that 89 children and 65 adults have died of malnutrition since the war began, with adult deaths counted from late June onward.

Israel continues to deny the presence of starvation in Gaza and says the focus on hunger undermines ongoing ceasefire negotiations. It blames civilian casualties on Hamas, claiming the group operates within densely populated areas.

The conflict began when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251. Around 50 hostages remain in captivity, with about 20 believed to be alive.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants, the U.N. and other international agencies consider it the most reliable source of casualty data.