Palestinians carry the body of a boy who was killed while trying to reach a humanitarian aid convoy on the outskirts of Beit Lahiya, as they walk on a road in Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.
Israeli forces shot dead four Palestinians on Sunday while they tried to collect food aid near Gaza City. Witnesses and hospital staff confirmed the incident, describing indiscriminate gunfire on desperate aid-seekers.
The shooting comes as famine tightens its grip on Gaza after nearly two years of relentless war. Israel’s defense minister has already warned that Gaza City could soon be destroyed as the military prepares a major offensive.
Witnesses Describe Deadly Gunfire
The incident took place in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone south of Gaza City. Hundreds had gathered to access food from a distribution site operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Al-Awda Hospital and eyewitnesses reported that troops opened fire when people rushed forward before the site’s scheduled opening.
“The gunfire was indiscriminate,” said Mohamed Abed, a father of two from the Bureij refugee camp. Another witness, Aymed Sayyad, said he saw two wounded people and helped carry them away.
GHF denied the incident happened near its facility. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.
Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.
Malnutrition Deaths on the Rise
The Gaza Health Ministry reported eight more malnutrition-related deaths on Sunday, including a child. That raises the war’s total hunger-related fatalities to 289, of which 115 were children.
Every day, thousands of Palestinians walk long distances hoping for flour or basic food staples.
According to the ministry, more than 2,000 Palestinians have died and over 13,500 have been injured while trying to access aid at distribution points or convoy routes.
Overall, at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, though Israel disputes these figures. Independent experts and the United Nations still consider the Health Ministry’s data the most reliable.
Famine Declared in Gaza
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world’s leading authority on food crises, confirmed famine in Gaza City. The report warned it could spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by next month.
Aid groups blame Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies for worsening starvation. Israel rejects claims of widespread hunger, calling them propaganda from Hamas.
Heavy Bombardment Near Gaza City
In Jabaliya refugee camp, just north of Gaza City, residents reported heavy overnight explosions. Locals said they live in constant fear as Israel intensifies operations and mobilizes tens of thousands of reservists.
Displaced resident Ossama Matter described neighborhoods “razed beyond recognition.” Another witness, teacher Salim Dhaher, said he saw robots planting explosives, fueling fears of forced displacement.
“They want it like Rafah,” Matter said, referring to the southern city destroyed earlier in the war.
Palestinians Fear Forced Displacement
Despite looming invasion threats, many Palestinians have not evacuated south. Repeated displacements and mistrust of “humanitarian zones” leave people unconvinced that any place is safe.
The war began after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 on October 7, 2023. Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. Families fear a new offensive could endanger them further.
Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy on the outskirts of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug, 23, 2025.
Ceasefire Talks at a Standstill
Hamas recently accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators for a partial deal. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected it.
“We agreed to a partial deal and expressed readiness for a full one,” Hamas said Sunday. “But Netanyahu rejects all solutions.”
With new reservist call-ups in Israel and continued bombardment in Gaza, both sides brace for the next phase of war. Meanwhile, civilians trapped in Gaza face famine, displacement, and daily uncertainty over survival.
