73 Palestinians Killed While Seeking Aid in Gaza

At least 73 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza were killed by Israeli gunfire on Sunday 20th July, the Palestinian health ministry reported. Around 150 people were also wounded during the incident. Most of the casualties—67 deaths—occurred in northern Gaza, while six others were killed in Khan Younis in the southern part of the Strip.

It is unclear whether all 67 deaths in northern Gaza happened in a single incident or multiple events.

This is marking one of the highest death tolls among recent cases where aid-seekers have been shot.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they fired warning shots to disperse a crowd of thousands in northern Gaza, claiming there was an immediate threat.

The military said it is still investigating the incident and has not released casualty figures.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) reported that a convoy of 25 trucks carrying vital food aid crossed the Zikim border into Gaza Sunday morning.

Shortly after crossing into northern Gaza, the convoy encountered large crowds waiting for assistance.

WFP said the crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers, and other gunfire as the convoy approached.

WFP called for an immediate halt to shooting near humanitarian operations, emphasizing that the ongoing violence makes aid efforts extremely dangerous.

The organization highlighted the situation as increasingly perilous for aid workers and civilians alike.

The Israeli military described these areas as active combat zones and urged residents to avoid movement there for their safety.

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, reported that people were shot at while trying to access aid northwest of Gaza City.

He described the hospital as overwhelmed by casualties, injuries, and civilians suffering from starvation.

A health official reported that many civilians and medical staff are arriving at hospitals in a state of fainting or collapse due to severe malnutrition.

The Palestinian Red Crescent’s Al-Saraya Field Hospital in Gaza City received 120 injured people on Sunday, some in critical condition. The hospital also reported two deaths.

In northern Gaza’s Beit Lahia, Palestinians gathered to carry aid supplies on July 20, 2025. Israeli forces targeted civilians waiting for aid from the Zikim area north of Beit Lahia.

Due to the large number of casualties, the hospital’s capacity was quickly expanded beyond its usual 68 beds to treat the injured.

Residents in Deir Al Balah in central Gaza said they were forced to evacuate Sunday after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dropped flyers warning them to leave the area.

One resident, Thurayya Abu Qunneis, told CNN that the sky was filled with leaflets telling residents to evacuate.

The resident described living in constant fear, with no food, water, or sleep, and said children are dying of hunger.

Another resident, Mohammad Al Najiri, said they received warnings to leave, but had nowhere to go and no safe place to evacuate.

The Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) warned that Israel’s evacuation orders are endangering vital healthcare facilities in Gaza.

Several clinics, shelters, and a community kitchen had to shut down after being ordered to evacuate, further damaging Gaza’s already strained healthcare system.

On Saturday, at least 32 people were killed while seeking aid near a distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to the Palestinian health ministry and witnesses.

The Israeli military said troops identified suspects approaching them during operations near Rafah, about one kilometer from the aid site.

The military claimed they warned the suspects to leave, and when they did not comply, warning shots were fired. The incident is under review.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Government Media Office, nearly 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access food near aid distribution sites between May 27 and July 20, 2025.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that nearly 800 Gazans had been killed trying to reach aid between late May and July 7.

Source: CNN