Nearly 100 people killed seeking aid in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials say

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7411x4941+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F9d%2Fe43a7763440b887ce92d5250fd6a%2Fap25201478859206.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7411x4941+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F9d%2Fe43a7763440b887ce92d5250fd6a%2Fap25201478859206.jpg" class="img" alt="Palestinians react after carrying the bodies of those killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Sunday." fetchpriority="high"/> Palestinians react after carrying the our bodies of these killed whereas making an attempt to achieve assist vehicles getting into northern Gaza via the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, on Sunday. Jehad Alshrafi/AP conceal caption

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Jehad Alshrafi/AP Not less than 94 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli army fireplace throughout Gaza on Sunday as they tried to get meals assist, in response to native well being authorities and hospital morgue officers, in one of many deadliest days in current months for these in search of help.

The deadliest incident occurred in northern Gaza, close to the Israeli border space of Zikim, the place at the very least 81 Palestinians had been killed as they tried to seize sacks of flour for bread from U.N. World Meals Programme vehicles getting into from Israel.

The Palestinian Purple Crescent stated Israeli army forces had "focused civilians ready for humanitarian assist" north of Beit Lahia. The group stated a Gaza Metropolis area hospital it operates had acquired 95 folks with accidents, a few of whom had been in important situation.

In an announcement, the Israel Protection Forces stated its troops encountered 1000's of Palestinians gathered in northern Gaza and "fired warning photographs as a way to take away a right away risk posed to them."

The Israeli army stated it was inspecting the incident however that an "preliminary overview means that the variety of casualties reported doesn't align with the knowledge held by the IDF."

Since Might, the WFP has been delivering meals assist to Gaza in a separate program from the U.S. and Israeli-backed meals distribution system. Most of the WFP assist vehicles have been looted by armed gangs and hungry crowds as they enter Gaza.

In an announcement, the WFP stated its 25-truck convoy had been launched from checkpoints to enter Gaza Sunday morning when it encountered huge crowds of "hungry civilians" after which got here beneath fireplace.

"WFP reiterates that any violence involving civilians in search of humanitarian assist is totally unacceptable," the group stated. "We proceed to name for the safety of all civilians and assist staff delivering life-saving help."

Sunday was one of many deadliest days Gaza well being officers have recorded in current months for Palestinians in search of assist amid extreme meals shortages and widespread starvation.

Amongst them was Hassan Abu Marasah, who was wounded in his head and leg from Israeli tank fireplace in northern Gaza and was being handled at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis.

"Starvation makes you determined," he cried. "I've no meals at residence. I went out to feed my children. And that is what occurred to me."

Additionally on Sunday, Israel introduced new evacuations in part of central Gaza the place it stated its army had not operated earlier than.

Individuals within the southwestern a part of Deir al-Balah, a metropolis about 10 miles southwest of Gaza Metropolis, had been urged to depart for his or her security, in response to a submit on X by Avichay Adraee, the Israel Protection Forces spokesperson for Arab media.

Adraee instructed anybody close by, "together with these contained in the tents positioned within the space," to evacuate south towards Al-Mawasi, within the submit translated from Arabic.

In a subsequent submit on X, Adraee urged folks to not return to quite a lot of areas in northern Gaza — together with "Beit Lahia, Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Shuja'iyya, Daraj, Previous Metropolis, Tuffah, Zaytoun, and their neighborhoods."

He stated the areas had been "harmful fight zones" and stated the IDF was working there "with excessive depth."

Pope Leo XIV, talking on Sunday, mourned the deaths of three folks sheltering on the Holy Household church in Gaza Metropolis and referred to as for an "fast halt to the barbarity" in Gaza.