
Israeli tanks, snipers opened fire on crowd seeking aid in Gaza, says UN food agency
The World Food Programme in a statement on Sunday (July 20, 2025) condemned the violence that erupted in northern Gaza as Palestinians tried to reach a convoy of trucks carrying food. The Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 80 people were killed in the incident.
The Israeli military has said it fired warning shots 'to remove an immediate threat,' but has questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians.
The accusation by a major aid agency that has had generally good working relations with Israel builds on descriptions by witnesses and others, who also said Israel opened fire on the crowd.
The bloodshed surrounding aid access highlights the increasingly precarious situation for people in Gaza who have been desperately seeking out food and other assistance, as the war that has roiled the region shows no signs of ending.
Israel and Hamas are still engaged in ceasefire talks, but there appears to be no breakthrough and it's not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt.
As the talks proceed, the death toll in the war-ravaged territory has climbed to more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
Israel has meanwhile widened its evacuation orders for the territory to include an area that has been somewhat less hard-hit than others, indicating a new battleground may be opening up and squeezing Palestinians into ever tinier stretches of Gaza.
WFP condemns violence at food distribution points
In northern Gaza on Sunday, the Health Ministry, witnesses and a UN official said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to get food from a 25-truck convoy that had entered the hard-hit area.
The WFP statement, which said the crowd surrounding its convoy 'came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire,' backs up those claims. The statement did not specify a death toll, saying only the incident resulted in the loss of 'countless lives'.
After Sunday's incident, a photographer cooperating with The Associated Press counted 31 bodies at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and 20 others in the courtyard of Sheikh Radwan clinic.
'These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation,' it said, adding that the incident occurred despite assurances from Israeli authorities that aid delivery would improve. Part of those assurances, it said, was that armed forces would not be present nor engage along aid routes.
'Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions must stop immediately.'
The Israeli military declined to comment on the WFP claims. Military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani posted on X Sunday that soldiers were told 'do not engage, do not shoot,' and shared a video of troops near a crowd of Palestinians gathering around a truck as one soldier yells repeatedly, 'Do not shoot!' The Associated Press could not immediately verify the video and it was not clear where it was filmed.
Israel has not allowed international media to enter Gaza throughout the war, and the competing claims could not be independently verified.
Sunday's incident comes as Palestinian access to aid in the territory has been greatly diminished, and seeking that aid has become perilous.
A U.S. and Israeli-backed aid system that has wrested some aid delivery from traditional providers like the UN has been wracked by violence and chaos as Palestinians heading toward its aid distribution sides have come under fire. The group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has said that the majority of the reported violence has not occurred at its sites.
Violence rages on in Gaza
Gaza health officials said on Monday at least 13 people, including two women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes since the previous night.
At least two people were killed Monday morning when crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks were shot at in the area of Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, according to Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa Hospital where the dead were taken. He said Israeli forces had opened fire.
An Israeli strike overnight hit a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, killing at least five people, according to the Health Ministry. The dead include two parents, two of their children and a relative, it said.
Other strikes hit tents in the Muwasi area and a residential building in Gaza City, according to health officials.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates from populated areas.
Gaza's Health Ministry meanwhile said Israeli forces detained Dr Marwan al-Hams, acting director of the strip's field hospitals and the ministry's spokesman. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive.
Israel again struck rebels in Yemen
The fighting in Gaza has triggered conflicts elsewhere in region, including between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Israeli military said it struck the Hodeidah port in Yemen on Monday morning, saying that the Houthis were rebuilding the port infrastructure. Israel said the Houthis used the port to receive weapons from Iran and launch missiles towards Israel.
The Israeli military said it targeted the parts of the port used by the Houthis and accused the Houthis of using civilian infrastructure for militant purposes.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the targets included areas of the port that Israel had destroyed in previous strikes. 'The Houthis will pay heavy prices for launching missiles towards the state of Israel,' Mr. Katz said. Israel last struck Hodeidah port two weeks ago.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Jordan, UAE airdrop 25 tons of aid to Gaza for first time in months
Amid Gaza's peaking hunger crisis, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday airdropped 25 tons of aid into the Gaza Strip, marking the first aid marks the first airdrop in months. As per the Gaza Health Ministry, 127 people, including 85 children, have died due to malnutrition since the war began nearly two years(AP) A Jordan official said that the air drops were not a substitute for delivery by land, reported Reuters. Two Jordanian Air Force C-130 Planes and one Emirati Plane dropped a total of 25 tonnes of aid to Gaza, according to Jordanian official sources. This is done to reduce the hunger crisis in Gaza. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it will implement a daily 'tactical pause' in three areas of Gaza, including the Muwasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. This 'tactical pause' halts military operations from 10 am to 8 pm local time starting Sunday until further notice, according to an AP news agency report. Along with this, the Israeli military also said that it had begun dropping aid into Palestinian territory after allegations of using starvation as a weapon against civilians. As per the Gaza health ministry, 127 people, including 85 children, have died due to malnutrition since the war began nearly two years ago. More than 100 NGOs have warned this week of "mass starvation". Also read: Palestinians stare at 'die hungry or leave territory' as Gaza starvation peaks, Israel blames Hamas again Meanwhile, Israel has faced International criticism after the crisis intensified following a total blockade that was imposed by Israel in March. In late May, Israel began allowing a trickle of aid, but UN and other humanitarian agencies have accused Israel of imposing excessive restrictions with tight control on road access. Egypt aid trucks enter Gaza Aid trucks from Egypt also began entering Gaza from Egypt on Sunday after the 'tactical pause' announced by Israel, AFP reported. The Egyptian state-linked media also had confirmed earlier that the movement of convoys, along with sharing footage of trucks near the border area. However, trucks crossing the Rafah border cannot enter Gaza directly as the Palestinian side of the crossing was seized by the Israeli military last year and has been badly damaged. To enter Gaza, these trucks will have to drive to the nearby Kerem Shalom (Karam Abu Salem) crossing, which is controlled by Israel. (With inputs from agencies)
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
5 hours ago
- First Post
UN welcomes Israel's 'humanitarian pauses' as hunger crisis in Gaza prompts new aid access
The Israeli military said it would halt activity between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (0700–1700 GMT) in designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Secure corridors for aid convoys will also be operational from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. read more Displaced Palestinians at the Nuseirat refugee camp haul food parcels and other items they managed to get from a GHF aid distribution point at the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip. AFP Israel has announced daily pauses in military operations across parts of the Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian access, as global concern mounts over the worsening crisis in the enclave. The United Nations' aid chief welcomed Israel's announcement Sunday of secure land routes into Gaza for humanitarian convoys, and said the UN would try to reach as many starving people as possible. 'Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through,' UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Israeli military said it would halt activity between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (0700–1700 GMT) in designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Secure corridors for aid convoys will also be operational from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The move comes as the United Nations and international aid agencies report severe hunger and rising malnutrition among Gaza's 2.2 million residents. According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 127 people, including 85 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began. On Saturday, five-month-old Zainab Abu Haleeb died of severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, further underscoring the gravity of the situation. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said conditions in Gaza were already 'catastrophic and deteriorating fast.' OCHA said constraints imposed by the Israeli authorities had hampered humanitarians' ability to respond. It said that on Thursday, for example, out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza, four were 'outright denied', with another three impeded. In parallel, Israel began airdropping aid packages and the Egyptian Red Crescent dispatched over 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food via the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel says it supports aid deliveries but must maintain oversight to prevent supplies from reaching militant groups. It also insists that sufficient food has been allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of obstructing distribution. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The humanitarian pause follows growing international alarm, including calls for action from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has signalled intentions to recognise a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations appear to have stalled, with Israel and the United States blaming Hamas for a lack of commitment. Within Gaza, reactions to the pause have been mixed. While some residents expressed cautious relief, many emphasised the need for a permanent end to hostilities. 'We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up,' said Tamer Al-Burai, a local business owner. Others voiced concern over the delivery methods, particularly the risks posed by aid airdrops. The Israeli government's decision has also drawn criticism from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said he was not consulted and accused the leadership of capitulating to Hamas. The war, which began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, has since claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Facing Pressure, Israel Opens Aid Routes In Gaza With Daily Ceasefire
Last Updated: The Israeli military said the pause in fighting would take place from 10 am to 8 pm local time each day in three densely populated area; Gaza City, Deir al-Balah & Al-Muwasi. Under growing international pressure and rising concerns over famine in Gaza, Israel on Sunday began a daily 'tactical pause" in parts of the territory to allow humanitarian aid to flow more freely. The Israeli military said the pause in fighting would take place from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time each day in three densely populated areas: Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Muwasi. The goal, according to the military, is to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip." Secure land routes are being established for the United Nations and aid groups to deliver food and medical supplies. Israel also said it had carried out airdrops of food aid, including flour, sugar, and canned goods. Israel strongly rejected claims that it is using starvation as a weapon of war, a charge levelled by some international critics as images of malnourished children in Gaza continue to circulate globally. It said the latest aid steps were made in coordination with the UN and other humanitarian agencies. The UN's World Food Programme welcomed the move but stressed that much more needs to be done. The agency estimates that a third of Gaza's population is going days without food, and around 500,000 people are facing famine-like conditions. It said it has enough food to support the entire population for nearly three months, but delivery remains a major challenge. Despite the pause, Israel's military operations continue in other areas. Palestinian health officials reported at least 27 people killed in separate Israeli strikes around the same time the pause began. The situation remains dire. Gaza's Health Ministry said Israeli strikes have killed over 59,700 people since the war began. Israel says it is targeting Hamas fighters, but Gaza officials say more than half of the dead are women and children. The conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel says it will only agree to a full ceasefire if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, terms the militant group has rejected. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks appear to have stalled, with both Israel and the US recalling negotiators last week. (With inputs from agencies) view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 17:28 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.