According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least seven people have died of starvation in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of hunger-related deaths since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023 to 154, with 89 of them being children.
UN-backed global food security experts have assessed the situation in Gaza as "the worst-case scenario" and warn that famine is already becoming a reality.
The Israeli side claims it is not blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, but these claims are questioned by the UN, the European Union, and other international organizations.
On Wednesday morning, six Palestinians were reported killed near the Humanitarian Aid Fund (GHF) distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to hospital sources. They were reportedly targeted by an Israeli tank as they attempted to enter the aid center before its opening.
However, GHF stated that there were no fatalities in that area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they fired warning shots from a distance because a group of "suspicious individuals" posed a threat to their forces. According to IDF's preliminary investigations, the reported number of casualties does not match Israeli official data.
The Ministry of Health reported that 103 people were killed on Wednesday, with 60 of them dying while seeking aid. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that in the incident in Zikim, where civilians were waiting for aid, six bodies were brought to two hospitals, and 274 people were injured.
On Tuesday, only 109 aid trucks entered Gaza. However, most of them were looted before reaching their destinations. Trucks loaded with flour were surrounded by desperate citizens — some took food for personal use, while others seized it to sell on the market.
According to UN estimates, at least 600 aid trucks per day are needed to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israel halted the aid flow completely in March. This move led to the collapse of a two-month ceasefire agreement and the resumption of military operations. Israel aimed to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.
After international warnings and humanitarian pressure, the blockade was partially eased, but shortages of food, medicine, and fuel continue to worsen.
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