Gaza Faces Deadliest Day for Aid Seekers as Malnutrition Threatens Children

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7 days ago

Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians trying to reach food in Gaza on Sunday, in one of the deadliest days for aid seekers in the war-torn enclave as malnutrition is threatening Palestinian children.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for areas crowded with displaced people and international aid organizations in central Gaza, raising alarm over a new ground operation amid the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip. Largest Death Toll
On Sunday, at least 85 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Most of the victims, were in northern Gaza, as at least 79 people died while trying to get aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, the head of the Health Ministry's records department, Zaher al-Waheidi, told the Associated Press (AP).
Moreover, Israeli troops killed 6 Palestinians in the Shakoush area, near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the southern city of Rafah, according to al-Waheidi. However, the US-backed organization said it was not aware of any incident near its site.
Another 7 Palestinians were killed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, including a 5-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital. Tragic Incident
The UN World Food Program (WFP) said a convoy of 25 trucks carrying vital food aid had entered into the area to help starving communities, but the convoy faced large crowds of civilians desperately waiting for needed food supplies. Hospitals said they received more than 150 casualties, some in critical condition.
'As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire,' the WFP said in a statement. It voiced deep concern over this 'tragic incident' that resulted in the loss of many lives.
'These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza,' the statement added. Israel Blames Hamas
The Israeli military put the blame on Hamas, accusing the Palestinian movement's elements of creating chaos. It said Israeli forces opened fire at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat.
The Israeli military acknowledged some casualties, but said that numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than the findings of its initial investigation. Malnutrition Risks
The WFP warned that the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached 'new levels of desperation' due to lack of humanitarian assistance and the spread of malnutrition among women and children. 'Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. Nearly one person in three is not eating for days,' it said.
As a result, the UN agency called for an immediate ceasefire to scale up food supplies distribution. 'We urgently call on the international community and all parties to advocate for, and facilitate, the delivery of life-saving food aid to starving populations inside Gaza – safely, securely, wherever families are, and without obstruction,' the WFP said. New Evacuation Orders
The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where Israel has rarely operated with ground troops. These areas also host large crowds of displaced people and several international organizations trying to distribute humanitarian assistance. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza.
The new evacuation orders direct residents and displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah to move south towards al-Mawasi, saying that the Israeli military 'continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area.'
In response, the UN OCHA warned that the new evacuation orders 'dealt yet another devastating blow' to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, as Deir al-Balah hosts between 50,000 and 80,000 people, including some 30,000 people sheltering in 57 displacement sites.
'The newly-designated area includes several humanitarian warehouses, four primary health clinics, four medical points, and critical water infrastructure: the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant, three water wells, one water reservoir, one solid waste dumping site and one wastewater pumping station. Any damage to this infrastructure will have life-threatening consequences,' it said in a statement.
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