Over 500 Palestinians Killed Seeking Food at Militarized Gaza Aid Sites

Gaza is facing a dire humanitarian crisis as Palestinians risk their lives daily to access severely limited food aid, which often consists of nutritionally poor meals like thin broths and lentils. Since late May, over 500 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured near aid distribution points run by the US-Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates with heavy Israeli military presence, leading to deadly violence around these hubs. The UN and humanitarian agencies warn that these distribution sites have become dangerous 'death traps,' and desperate crowds frequently plunder aid supplies upon arrival. Fuel shortages have further crippled essential services, with water facilities and medical services operating at reduced capacity, exacerbating the population's suffering. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, condemns the ongoing siege as tantamount to genocide and criticizes global actors for failing to fulfill their legal obligations to end support for Israel's actions, highlighting the role of corporations profiting from the occupation. Medical volunteers report Palestinians often queue at aid sites overnight in hopes of securing food, underscoring the extreme desperation and collapse of Gaza’s infrastructure.