Horrific Gaza Aid Crisis: 91 Killed as US Envoy Pushes for Ceasefire
At least 91 Palestinians were killed and 600 wounded in Gaza over a 24-hour period while seeking humanitarian aid, as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to address the escalating famine and stalled ceasefire talks. The violence, centered around aid distribution points, underscores the dire humanitarian crisis gripping the region, with starvation claiming lives and international outcry growing louder.
Tragedy at Zikim Crossing
On Wednesday night, desperate crowds gathered at the Zikim crossing, a key entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza, only to face deadly gunfire. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, Israeli soldiers shot at hungry civilians waiting for aid trucks, leaving over 100 dead and wounded, with casualties transported to Al-Saraya field hospital.
The Associated Press reported that the death toll is expected to rise as hospitals struggle to cope. On Thursday morning, an additional 19 people were killed by Israeli forces at aid distribution sites in central Gaza and Rafah, further compounding the tragedy.
The Israeli military claimed it fired “warning shots” and denied awareness of casualties, asserting that troops responded to perceived threats. However, Gaza’s Civil Defence agency and local health officials reported that Israeli forces directly targeted the crowds. The lack of independent journalistic access to Gaza, due to Israel’s restrictions, makes verifying these accounts challenging.
Famine Grips Gaza
Gaza is in the throes of a catastrophic famine, with the international authority on food insecurity declaring that the “worst-case scenario” is unfolding. Seven children died of hunger on Wednesday alone, bringing the total malnutrition deaths to 154, including 90 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The World Health Organization described starvation as a “slow and painful” death, particularly for children, who may cry from pain until they are too weak to continue. The agency warned that reversing this “man-made tragedy” could take months or years without urgent action.
The breakdown of social order has led to desperate scenes, with crowds looting the rare aid trucks that enter Gaza. Over 1,000 people have been killed, primarily by Israeli forces, while trying to access food from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) or at border crossings since May.
The UN has stressed that only a consistent and sufficient aid supply can prevent such chaos, pointing to Israel’s control over crossings as a key factor in the crisis. Israel denies causing starvation, claiming no restrictions on aid, but UN agencies and aid groups report that current measures, including tactical pauses and airdrops, fall far short of the 500-600 trucks needed daily.
US Envoy’s Mission Amid Ceasefire Stalemate
Steve Witkoff’s visit to Israel coincides with mounting international pressure on Israel to address the crisis. On Thursday, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the faltering ceasefire negotiations and the humanitarian situation. The White House announced that Witkoff, alongside US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution sites operated by the controversial GHF and meet with local Gazans to assess the crisis firsthand.
Ceasefire talks have stalled, with Israel and the US withdrawing negotiators from Doha last week, blaming Hamas for introducing new demands. Hamas denied this, insisting on a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted aid flow. Israel responded to Hamas’s latest proposal for a 60-day truce and hostage-prisoner exchange, but progress remains elusive. US President Donald Trump urged Hamas to surrender and release the roughly 50 remaining hostages, stating on Truth Social that this is the “fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza.”
International Response and Aid Efforts
The international community has intensified its criticism of Israel’s actions. More than a dozen countries, including Canada, the UK, and France, have moved toward recognizing a Palestinian state, a symbolic gesture amid outrage over Gaza’s starvation crisis. Cyprus is working to revive a sea corridor that previously delivered 2,200 tonnes of aid, with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos calling the situation “unacceptable” and urging immediate action. The European Commission also proposed suspending Israel from a prestigious science program due to the crisis.
Israel has faced accusations of genocide and war crimes, which it denies, asserting that its actions are self-defense following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 60,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, with the territory’s infrastructure devastated.
As Gaza’s crisis deepens, the world watches closely. Witkoff’s visit and ongoing diplomatic efforts highlight the urgent need for a ceasefire and robust aid delivery to prevent further loss of life.
