At least 35 people were killed in the latest Israeli strike targeting aid seekers in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

GAZA CITY, June 21— At least 35 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in central Gaza, according to medical sources at al-Awda Hospital. The victims had gathered near the Netzarim Corridor, hoping to receive food and essentials amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.

Later the same day, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential home west of Deir el-Balah, killing at least eight more people and wounding several others. Hospitals across Gaza cumulatively reported that Israeli military actions killed at least 70 people on Friday alone.

The latest tragedy comes as Palestinians continue to gather near aid distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial body backed by Israel and the United States. Since the GHF began operations on May 27, more than 400 people have been killed and over 3,200 injured while attempting to access food and supplies, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

Aid Sites Turn Into Kill Zones

Despite claims from GHF that it has safely delivered over three million meals, the United Nations and humanitarian groups say the aid effort has become increasingly deadly and disorganized.

“Far from solving the problem, the current system is exacerbating suffering,” said James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, during a press briefing in Geneva. Elder warned that the collapse of Gaza’s water infrastructure had created a “man-made drought” and that “children will begin to die of thirst” unless conditions improve rapidly.

Only 40 percent of Gaza’s facilities for producing drinking water are still operational, Elder said. He also cited accounts of civilians—including women and children—being injured or killed by tank fire or airstrikes while trying to collect aid.

“The lack of clear communication about when and where aid is distributed—especially during ongoing internet blackouts—is contributing to mass casualty incidents,” Elder added.

Mounting Criticism of GHF Operations

The United Nations has harshly criticized the GHF for its failure to provide safe and transparent distribution of aid. With many aid points located in or near combat zones, the foundation’s methods have sparked fears among both civilians and international observers.

On Wednesday, GHF issued a statement claiming that its three active sites had successfully distributed meals “without incident.” However, eyewitness reports and casualty figures sharply contradict those claims.

Growing International Concern

The worsening situation in Gaza is unfolding alongside a separate, week-long exchange of airstrikes between Israel and Iran. Despite the ongoing conflict dominating headlines, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.

In a speech at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s youth forum in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a stark warning: “This madness must end as soon as possible. The genocide in Gaza and Israel’s conflict with Iran are rapidly approaching an irreversible point.

Erdoğan condemned Israeli hypocrisy, noting, “Israel complains today about damage to its hospitals, yet it has launched over 700 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza.”

A Call for Immediate Action

With over two million people facing famine, medical collapse, and now an escalating death toll at aid sites, global leaders are facing growing pressure to intervene. Human rights organizations are urging an immediate ceasefire and an overhaul of Gaza’s aid delivery system to prevent further civilian deaths.

“The international community cannot stand by while desperate civilians are slaughtered trying to survive,” said a statement from Human Rights Watch.

As Gaza’s population continues to endure airstrikes, starvation, and isolation, the world watches a humanitarian disaster unfold—one that aid workers say is rapidly approaching irreversibility.