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At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food in Gaza on Sunday, and six others died from starvation or malnutrition, according to Palestinian officials. The deaths occurred amid regional anger over an Israeli minister’s visit to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.
Witnesses reported that Israeli troops opened fire on crowds gathering for food aid at a distribution point run by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in southern Gaza. Some described the shooting as indiscriminate.
“I couldn’t stop to help because of the bullets,” said Yousef Abed, who told the Associated Press he saw at least three people bleeding on the ground after Israeli forces began shooting.
Sunday’s violence was the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving people seeking food. The UN reported on Friday that at least 1,400 people have been killed while trying to access aid since May 27, mostly near GHF sites or along aid convoy routes. The GHF claims it only uses pepper spray or warning shots to control crowds.
The Gaza health ministry said 119 people were killed by Israeli forces in the past 24 hours, including those seeking aid.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces struck its headquarters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing one staff member and injuring three others. Video footage showed the building engulfed in flames after the attack.
Another Israeli strike hit a school in Khan Younis being used as a shelter, killing at least two people.
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is worsening as famine spreads, which experts blame on Israel’s blockade of aid. While Israel denies there is a starvation crisis and announced expanded aid measures last week, humanitarian groups say restrictions on aid deliveries remain severe.
Health officials reported six more starvation-related deaths in the past day, bringing the total to 175—including 93 children. Deaths from hunger have risen sharply in July, surpassing the total from the previous 20 months combined.
Humanitarian workers say far more aid is needed to address the crisis.
“We need a sustained influx of humanitarian aid to stabilize the situation. Patients and hospitals require extra food to help with recovery,” said Hisham Mhanna, an ICRC spokesperson in Gaza.
He added that starvation is compounding existing problems, including a collapsed healthcare system and disease outbreaks. Aid groups are struggling to assist Gaza’s population amid severe shortages.
Since Israel’s military operation began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack—which killed about 1,200 people in Israel—at least 60,839 people have died in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, led prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, sparking regional condemnation. About 1,250 people, protected by Israeli forces, joined the prayers at the site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.
Under a longstanding agreement, Jews are permitted to visit but not pray at the compound, which is under Jordanian custodianship. Jordan called Ben-Gvir’s visit “an unacceptable provocation” and strongly condemned it.Here’s a rewritten version in fluent, natural English while preserving the original meaning:
Israeli minister Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tisha B’Av – a Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of two ancient temples – sparked controversy as the first public prayer there by an Israeli official. The site has seen previous clashes, including a 2023 Israeli police raid after Palestinians occupied it amid rumors of planned Jewish ceremonies.
During his visit, Ben-Gvir called for Israel to annex Gaza and urged Palestinians to leave the territory. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that conquering Gaza and declaring sovereignty was the only way to secure hostages and win the war. Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly stated that Israel’s policy toward the holy site remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, Israel reacted strongly to newly released videos showing malnourished Hamas-held hostages in Gaza, sparking weekend protests. Netanyahu asked the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to the captives. Hamas countered that it would allow Red Cross aid if Israel stopped all flights during deliveries.
In the West Bank, thousands protested against the Gaza war and Israel’s detention of Palestinians. Demonstrators carried images of Palestinian prisoners, those killed by Israel, and starving Gazan children. Over 10,800 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, where rights groups report widespread abuse including torture, sexual violence, and food deprivation.
