GAZA – At least 12 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across the Gaza Strip, including civilians near humanitarian aid distribution sites, according to local health officials.
Medics at Al-Awda Hospital reported that three people lost their lives and dozens were injured after Israeli forces opened fire near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site close to the Netzarim corridor. Two more were killed while attempting to reach another aid center in Rafah, located in the south of the enclave.
Later in the day, an Israeli airstrike struck the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, killing at least seven people, medics confirmed. As of now, the Israeli military has not commented on the attacks or the rising death toll.
The GHF, a US-backed aid group, started food distribution in Gaza in late May after Israel relaxed a near-total blockade that lasted almost three months. However, these efforts have often turned deadly, with many Palestinians shot while attempting to collect food.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has strongly criticized the Israeli-approved aid delivery method, calling it both unsafe and biased. UN officials say the system fails to meet humanitarian standards and puts innocent civilians at constant risk.
Despite ongoing calls for a ceasefire and improved aid access, violence in Gaza continues to escalate, leaving families struggling for food, safety, and basic medical care amid the devastation.