Over 700 Palestinians have lost their lives in recent weeks while trying to access food and essential aid in the Gaza Strip. The staggering death toll, coupled with the thousands more injured, underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.
At least 743 people have been killed and nearly 5,000 injured while attempting to receive supplies from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid initiative operating in the war-ravaged enclave since late May. The aid scheme, backed by the United States and Israel, has sparked outrage amid mounting reports of violence against civilians at distribution points.
Despite the risks, many residents feel they have no choice but to seek help. With Gaza under a crippling blockade and food supplies dwindling, families are struggling to feed themselves. Parents skip meals so their children can eat, and in many homes, there’s little or nothing left to ration.
Witnesses describe chaotic and terrifying scenes at aid sites, where people gather in huge numbers, desperate for food. As crowds converge, gunfire and explosions have reportedly broken out, turning places meant for relief into deadly traps. In some incidents, live ammunition and stun grenades were reportedly used against unarmed civilians. The scale of violence has prompted accusations that the aid operation is less about relief and more about control, creating what critics call militarized zones where desperate people are exposed to lethal force.
The GHF, while denying any wrongdoing, has become the center of international condemnation. Critics argue that the organization’s methods—combining food distribution with armed oversight—amount to collective punishment. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with more and more families pushed to the edge of survival.
One man, injured during a distribution event, shared that he waited until midnight to try and reach food supplies in hopes of avoiding danger. But as hundreds gathered, explosions and gunfire broke out, and panic ensued. In the scramble to survive, many were injured or killed. His children, he said, hadn’t eaten for days, leaving him with little choice but to take the risk.
Meanwhile, two American workers stationed at a distribution site in Khan Younis were also reportedly injured when grenades were thrown at the location following a food handout. Their injuries are not life-threatening, but the incident highlights the volatile environment surrounding these operations.
Calls are growing louder for the immediate suspension of the GHF’s activities, with rights organizations accusing it of exacerbating the crisis rather than alleviating it. They argue the approach is inhumane and dangerous, worsening an already catastrophic situation.
Still, the desperate reality on the ground means many Palestinians continue to risk their lives for the chance of feeding their families. Hunger, fear, and violence now accompany every attempt to get aid, in a region where survival is becoming an increasingly distant hope.
