Israeli Fire Kills 30 in Gaza Aid Queue, Says Civil Defence Agency

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 30 civilians were killed and over 300 injured on Wednesday after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd gathered for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza. The Israeli military claimed it had no knowledge of casualties in the incident, which comes amid heightened tensions and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Incident Details

According to Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence:

“At least 30 martyrs were killed and 300 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for aid north of Gaza City.”

Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Hospital, confirmed that the facility received 35 bodies from the incident, which occurred approximately 3 kilometres southwest of the Zikim crossing, a key aid entry point.

The Israeli army stated:

“Dozens of Gazans were seen gathering around aid trucks near IDF troops. Troops fired warning shots in response to a perceived threat but not directly at the crowd. Initial investigations revealed no knowledge of casualties from IDF fire.”

Earlier the same day, Gaza’s civil defence reported 14 more Palestinians killed in four separate incidents—three of which occurred near aid distribution centres. The Israeli army acknowledged firing warning shots in two of those cases.

Humanitarian Conditions and UN Assessment

Despite Israel initiating daytime tactical pauses to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that:

“These pauses remain insufficient to alleviate the catastrophic food crisis and meet the needs of Gaza’s desperate, starving population.”

Humanitarian Challenges Overview:

OCHA stressed the complexity of accessing the Kerem Shalom crossing, pointing to bureaucratic and military hurdles that hinder aid movement. The agency also underscored the inadequate volume of aid available, even when trucks successfully enter Gaza.

Broader Conflict and Death Toll

The war, now in its 22nd month, was triggered by the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally. 251 hostages were taken, with 49 still in captivity, including 27 confirmed dead, according to Israeli military sources.

Israel’s military response has so far resulted in at least 60,138 deaths in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Ceasefire Talks and Diplomatic Developments

Efforts to broker a ceasefire remain stalled. US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Israel on Thursday to explore “next steps” in addressing the Gaza crisis. The move follows the withdrawal of both US and Israeli negotiation teams from Doha last week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that alternative plans are under discussion to secure the release of hostages. Meanwhile, Arab states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have collectively urged Hamas to disarm and end its governance of Gaza in a bid to halt the ongoing destruction.

“Israel’s current operational pauses alone cannot resolve the dire humanitarian catastrophe,” OCHA concluded in its latest briefing.