Eighty-four Palestinians, including 73 people waiting for humanitarian aid, were killed and dozens injured on Sunday after Israeli forces targeted civilians northwest of Gaza City. The attack marked the 653rd day of the war on the Strip and came amid growing warnings of famine and hunger-related deaths.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that the latest massacre raises the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking food since 27 May to 995, with more than 6,000 injured and 45 still missing. The ministry also confirmed that at least 71 children have died of hunger, as the ongoing Israeli blockade has blocked the entry of food and medicine for over four months.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned that one million children in Gaza are now facing starvation, accusing Israel of pursuing a deliberate starvation policy against civilians. The agency called for the immediate lifting of the blockade and unhindered humanitarian access.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera broadcast footage of fighters from Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, ambushing Israeli forces east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The escalation comes as the Israeli army issued warnings for civilians to stay away from northern areas including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, and Jabalia, labelling them “active combat zones.”
Despite continued attacks, Palestinian sources said Hamas had received new maps from mediators showing Israeli troop deployments across parts of Gaza, including Beit Hanoun, areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, and Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighbourhood. According to a source familiar with talks in Doha, Hamas is reviewing the maps and consulting with other Palestinian factions.
Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported “cautious optimism” for a possible deal within two weeks, although disagreements remain over the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released per Israeli captive. Qatari mediation has reportedly narrowed the gaps, though Israeli officials, quoted by state broadcaster Kan, accused Hamas of stalling and failing to submit an official response.
In a joint statement, Palestinian factions—including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front, the Democratic Front, and the Palestinian National Initiative—blamed the Israeli government and the U.S. administration for obstructing the negotiations. They accused Israel of committing genocide and forced displacement against more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, calling it a crime that violates international law and the Geneva Conventions.
The factions warned that Israel’s starvation tactics and ongoing military assaults suggest an intent to depopulate Gaza rather than agree to a ceasefire. They urged Palestinians everywhere, alongside Arab, Islamic, and international allies, to step up political and popular efforts to break the siege and stop the atrocities.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that 25 aid trucks managed to enter northern Gaza via the Zikim crossing on Sunday but were met by large crowds of desperate civilians. The agency reported that the crowd came under fire, resulting in multiple casualties. WFP stressed that attacks on civilians or humanitarian workers are absolutely unacceptable and called for their immediate protection.
In the last 24 hours alone, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported 130 new deaths and 495 injuries, bringing the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 58,895, with 140,980 wounded. Aid-related casualties during the past day accounted for 31 of the dead and more than 107 of the injured.
