In a series of alarming reports, the United Nations has documented the deaths of nearly 800 Palestinians in Gaza over the past six weeks, killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid. These incidents, occurring between May 27 and July 7, 2025, have drawn widespread condemnation from UN officials, humanitarian organizations, and human rights groups. The majority of these fatalities—615 to be precise—took place near aid distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization. An additional 183 deaths were recorded along routes used by aid convoys operated by the UN and other relief groups. This article explores the circumstances surrounding these tragic events, the criticisms of the GHF’s operations, the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the international response.
The Scale of the Crisis
According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), at least 798 people have been killed while seeking food and other essential supplies since late May 2025. The OHCHR’s spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, reported that these figures are based on data from hospitals, cemeteries, families, non-governmental organizations, and Gaza’s Hamas-run health authorities. The numbers highlight a dire situation where civilians, driven by desperation amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, are losing their lives in their pursuit of basic necessities like food and water.
On July 10, 2025, a particularly devastating incident saw 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, killed while waiting for nutritional supplements in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza. The following day, another 10 Palestinians were reported killed near a distribution point in Rafah, adding to the grim tally. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of violence that has persisted since the GHF began its operations on May 26, 2025, following an 11-week Israeli blockade that had severely restricted aid inflows and sparked warnings of imminent famine.
The Role of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, established with support from the United States and Israel, was intended to provide an alternative to the UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza. The GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to deliver supplies, bypassing the UN network, which Israel has accused of allowing Hamas militants to loot aid shipments—a claim Hamas denies. However, the GHF’s operations have been marred by chaos and frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on civilians waiting at aid distribution points.
The UN has labeled the GHF’s aid model “inherently unsafe” and a violation of humanitarian impartiality standards. Critics argue that the involvement of military or political actors in aid distribution undermines the neutrality required for safe and effective humanitarian operations. Gazans seeking aid must navigate complex instructions, adhere to specific routes, and travel long distances, often under the threat of violence. Reports from Gaza’s civil defense agency and local witnesses indicate that Israeli forces have used live ammunition, drone strikes, and airstrikes against civilians at these sites, with some soldiers admitting to being ordered to fire on unarmed individuals.
Humanitarian Challenges in Gaza
The violence at aid distribution points is a symptom of a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, now in its 21st month of conflict following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The war has displaced most of Gaza’s two million residents, reduced much of the enclave to rubble, and created acute shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. The UN and aid organizations have warned of a looming famine, with malnutrition rates reaching unprecedented levels. The World Food Programme reported on July 11, 2025, that humanitarian needs in Gaza “have never been higher,” while the ability to deliver assistance is severely constrained by ongoing military operations and restrictions.
Fuel shortages are exacerbating the crisis, with only 75,000 liters entering Gaza on July 9, 2025—the first such delivery in 130 days. This amount is insufficient to meet the daily needs of humanitarian operations, which require hundreds of thousands of liters to sustain essential services like hospitals and water purification systems. The lack of clean water has heightened the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly for the estimated 44,000 children and 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza, who face severe health risks due to malnutrition and inadequate medical care.
International Reactions and Ceasefire Efforts
The UN and its agencies, including UNICEF and the World Health Organization, have issued strong condemnations of the killings. UNICEF’s head expressed “deep dismay” over the deaths of children during aid distributions, calling them “unconscionable.” The UNRWA chief, Philippe Lazzarini, described Gaza as a “graveyard of children and starving people,” accusing Israel of orchestrating a “cruel and Machiavellian scheme” to kill civilians. The UN has called for investigations into the incidents and urged compliance with international humanitarian law.
Israel, for its part, has acknowledged “several” civilian deaths near GHF sites but insists that its forces operate in these areas to prevent aid from falling into the hands of Hamas militants. The Israeli military has stated that it has issued new instructions to troops following reports of civilian casualties, with some incidents under review. However, reports from Israeli outlet Haaretz indicate that soldiers have been ordered to fire on unarmed civilians, raising questions about accountability.
Amid the violence, ceasefire negotiations in Qatar continue, with Hamas and Israel locked in indirect talks. Hamas has agreed to release 10 of the remaining 50 hostages during a proposed two-month ceasefire, but key sticking points remain. Hamas seeks assurances that Israel will not resume fighting, while Israel demands the complete expulsion of Hamas from Gaza. The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis underscore the urgency of these talks, though progress remains elusive.
Broader Implications
The deaths of aid seekers in Gaza have sparked outrage and calls for action from the international community. France has urged the European Union to reassess its trade partnership with Israel over human rights abuses, while UN expert Francesca Albanese has advocated for an arms embargo and sanctions against Israel, accusing it of waging a “genocidal campaign.” The European Commission, however, has stated that it has no evidence of Hamas stealing aid, contradicting Israeli claims.
Aid organizations like Project Hope and Oxfam have highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, with reports of chaotic scenes at GHF sites and increasing malnutrition among children and pregnant women. The UN’s data, corroborated by local sources, paints a grim picture of a population pushed to the brink, where the act of seeking food has become a life-threatening endeavor.
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Last Updated on Saturday, July 12, 2025 2:39 pm by Mahitha Ventrapati
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