Palestinians react after carrying the bodies of those killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Sunday, July 20, 2025.
In one of the deadliest incidents involving aid seekers since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, at least 85 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while attempting to collect humanitarian aid. This comes as Israel widens evacuation orders across central Gaza—areas that had so far seen minimal ground troop activity.
The deaths add to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hunger, displacement, and violence are escalating rapidly.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the fatalities, calling Sunday the bloodiest day in over 21 months of conflict for people simply seeking food.
Aid Turns Into a Death Trap at Zikim Crossing
Northern Gaza saw the largest number of casualties, with 79 Palestinians shot dead near the Zikim crossing. Crowds had gathered there, hoping to receive food from a 25-truck convoy entering from Israel, coordinated by the U.N. World Food Program for starving communities.
Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes. Tanks reportedly surrounded people and fired at them. Ehab Al-Zei, waiting for flour, shared a harrowing account. “Gunshots and explosions trapped us for hours,” he said. “I haven’t eaten bread in 15 days.
I’d rather starve than go back.”
Footage shared by U.N. officials confirmed automatic gunfire and chaotic scenes. An injured man, Nafiz Al-Najjar, said people were “randomly” targeted by tanks and drones. He saw his cousin and others killed in front of him.
Israel Blames Hamas for Chaos
Israel’s military acknowledged that troops opened fire in northern Gaza, claiming the crowd posed a threat. However, they challenged the reported death toll, calling it exaggerated. They also accused Hamas of deliberately creating disorder to fuel further violence.
Further south in Rafah, six more Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid hub. The foundation, backed by both the U.S. and Israel, denied any incident at its site. Witnesses, however, stated that many have died trying to access aid distributed by international groups.
Seven Killed in Southern Gaza Tents
In another tragic event, seven Palestinians, including a 5-year-old child, were killed as strikes hit tents in Khan Younis.
The Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital confirmed the deaths, adding that many others were wounded.
Central Gaza Hit by New Evacuation Orders
Fresh evacuation orders issued by Israel are cutting off access between Deir al-Balah and the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. These areas were considered relatively safe zones.
Locals were stunned. “Rafah is already under evacuation. Now you want half of Deir al-Balah gone too? Where will we go?” asked Hassan Abu Azab. Scenes of families loading carts with bedding and belongings were widespread, with smoke and sirens in the background.
Humanitarian Operations Disrupted
According to U.N. sources, several international organizations, including the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), were forced to shut down clinics and evacuate offices. Nine clinics, including one run by MAP, closed down due to immediate evacuation orders.
The U.N. is now seeking clarity on whether its facilities in Deir al-Balah are also affected. Previous orders have spared U.N. buildings, but the situation remains unclear.
Israel’s military urged people to relocate to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp on Gaza’s southern coast with minimal infrastructure, labeled as a “humanitarian zone.”
Death Toll and Desperation Climb
As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, the death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 59,000, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Over half of those killed are reportedly women and children. Israel says it now controls more than 65% of Gaza.
Ambulances blared outside three major Gaza hospitals on Sunday, in a unified cry for help. Medical staff held signs about malnourished children and the severe lack of medicines. The situation is dire, with many families displaced multiple times and barely surviving on sporadic aid deliveries.
Mounting Pressure for Ceasefire
While Israel and Hamas continue indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar, protests are growing within Israel itself. The Hostages Family Forum, representing families of those taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack, condemned the expansion of military operations. They demand answers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces about the endgame in central Gaza.
“Enough!” the forum said in a public statement. “The Israeli people want an end to the war and the safe return of all hostages.”
On Saturday night, tens of thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv, marching toward the U.S. Embassy branch and demanding peace.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding
Gaza’s 2 million residents are facing starvation, displacement, and fear on all fronts. With aid routes shrinking and safe zones disappearing, the call for an urgent, lasting ceasefire grows louder by the day. The international community watches as Gaza bleeds—and hopes the next convoy brings help, not horror.
