Dozens of Palestinians killed while seeking food in Gaza as Israeli troops open fire near aid sites

The shootings occurred on Saturday in Rafah, near an aid hub, and on Sunday near the Zikim border crossing, a site used by aid trucks entering Gaza.

In two separate incidents over the weekend, Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians gathering near food distribution areas in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 90 people and injuring scores more, according to health officials in Gaza. The violence marks a deadly escalation in the ongoing humanitarian crisis, as desperate civilians face mounting risks simply trying to secure food, the New York Times reported.

The shootings occurred on Saturday in Rafah, near an aid hub, and on Sunday near the Zikim border crossing, a site used by aid trucks entering Gaza. Both locations were overwhelmed by crowds hoping to receive life-saving supplies in a region where food remains scarce. Witnesses and medical teams say the majority of those shot were unarmed civilians, many of whom had walked for hours to reach the sites.

Aid deliveries marred by bloodshed

The latest killings are part of a grim pattern that has emerged since Israel lifted an 80-day blockade in late May and began allowing restricted aid access through a new system. That effort is now spearheaded by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an entity created by Israel and backed financially and diplomatically by the United States. The group operates four distribution hubs across Gaza with American contractors on site and Israeli troops stationed nearby.

On Saturday, at least 32 people were killed in Rafah before the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's site opened. The foundation later confirmed there had been no incidents at its distribution sites but acknowledged the violence had occurred “hours before our sites opened.” Many Gazans, however, arrive at aid sites long before official opening hours due to extreme food scarcity and limited supply.

Then on Sunday, gunfire erupted near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza. Palestinian health officials said over 60 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. Israel said its soldiers fired “warning shots” in response to a perceived threat, though it added the reported number of casualties did not align with its initial review.

Field hospitals reported being overwhelmed with gunshot victims, including many in critical condition. “This has become my terrifying daily routine,” said Luay Abu Oda, 24, a survivor of Saturday’s attack. “I dropped to the ground and pretended to be dead just to survive.”

Controversy over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was set up to bypass Hamas and provide aid directly to civilians. However, humanitarian organizations have sharply criticized the model, calling it overly militarized and incompatible with international aid principles. In a joint statement last month, 15 human rights groups denounced the foundation’s lack of neutrality and independence, saying it placed civilians in danger rather than protecting them.

Despite the criticism, the U.S. defended the foundation last week at a UN Security Council session, accusing traditional aid groups of avoiding their responsibilities by refusing to participate.

But even supporters of the foundation admit that the situation on the ground is spiraling. More than 700 people have been killed while attempting to access food from these new sites since May, according to UN estimates. Many more have been injured, some fatally, as stampedes, stray bullets, and airstrikes turn aid lines into death traps.

Other aid routes faltering

The UN and various international organizations continue trying to deliver food into Gaza through other channels. But those efforts have largely collapsed due to insecurity and chaos. Crowds often ransack trucks before they reach distribution points, and aid convoys face regular delays or blockades.

Tom Fletcher of the UN humanitarian agency told the Security Council last week that current aid deliveries were “a drop in the ocean of needs.” He called for secure humanitarian corridors and warned that civilians must not be “drawn into a firing line.”

A humanitarian catastrophe deepens

Israel has come under growing international pressure for failing to ensure safe access to aid for the more than two million people trapped in Gaza. With famine looming and no reliable system in place, the weekend’s events highlight how efforts to deliver food have instead become flashpoints for bloodshed.

The rising toll of civilians killed while trying to survive has deepened the crisis. It has also raised urgent questions about the safety, legitimacy, and effectiveness of Israel’s new aid model — and whether a different approach is needed to prevent further tragedy.