More Than 700 Palestinians Killed While Seeking Aid in Gaza, Health Ministry Reports

More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured in recent weeks while attempting to access humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, according to figures released Saturday by the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Ministry reported at least 743 fatalities and over 4,891 injuries at aid distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a controversial aid mechanism backed by the United States and Israel. The deaths occurred amid continued Israeli military operations and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.

Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent, Hani Mahmoud, described the figures as “a conservative estimate” and stressed the growing desperation among Palestinians.

“People are going hungry. People are rationing supplies. A lot of families are not eating. Mothers here skip meals in order to provide for their children,” Mahmoud reported from Gaza City.

Aid Under Fire

Since the GHF began operating in late May, multiple reports have emerged alleging that Israeli forces and private contractors tasked with aid distribution have opened fire on civilians gathered at distribution sites. Eyewitnesses and local health officials say several of these sites have become flashpoints, rather than safe zones.

Critics have condemned the aid initiative as dangerously flawed and politicised. Human rights organisations have described the scheme as a “deadly trap”, claiming it subjects Palestinians to violence under the guise of relief efforts.

The situation is compounded by Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has severely restricted the flow of food, medical supplies, and fuel into Gaza. The blockade, enforced since the conflict escalated in October 2023, has devastated infrastructure and pushed the enclave’s population into extreme hunger.

International Response

International humanitarian bodies and rights groups have renewed calls for independent investigations into the deaths and for aid delivery mechanisms to be fully neutral and protected from military interference.

So far, neither the US nor Israeli governments have publicly commented on the latest death toll. The GHF has also yet to release a statement in response to the Gaza Health Ministry’s report.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks appear to be continuing. On Friday, Hamas expressed “positive spirit” toward a recent US-backed ceasefire proposal, although no concrete agreement has been reached.

As starvation looms and violence continues, the people of Gaza are left in an increasingly impossible situation — choosing between hunger and risking death in their search for aid.