Gaza City – At least 21 people were killed and more than 150 injured on Tuesday after an Israeli airstrike targeted civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in central Gaza, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency.
Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the victims were gathered near a distribution center in central Gaza when the attack occurred. The strike marks yet another deadly incident targeting Palestinians seeking aid, amid deepening hunger and devastation caused by the ongoing conflict.
In a separate morning airstrike, five people were reportedly killed and several others injured when an Israeli missile struck a home in Gaza City, Basal added.
Due to Israeli restrictions on media access and the ongoing conflict, independent verification of the casualty figures and details remains challenging.
With the war dragging into its 20th month, widespread famine and humanitarian desperation have led thousands of Gazans to queue daily at food distribution sites in the hope of receiving essential supplies. But these gatherings have increasingly become targets.
According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, at least 450 Palestinians have been killed and around 3,500 injured since the end of May alone while seeking humanitarian aid. Many of these incidents reportedly occurred near aid distribution points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a privately operated local relief group.
However, the foundation’s operations have faced chaos and criticism. UN agencies and major international aid organizations have largely refused to cooperate with the group, citing concerns that the sites may be vulnerable to Israeli military targeting.
Following Israel’s declaration of a ceasefire agreement with Iran, several Israeli opposition leaders called on the government to also bring an end to the war in Gaza, pointing to the escalating civilian toll and growing international condemnation.
The situation remains dire, with humanitarian access, safety, and accountability in Gaza continuing to face significant obstacles.
