Gaza City, Gaza Strip – July 21, 2025: At least 67 civilians were killed and dozens injured when Israeli troops opened fire on people waiting for a UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid convoy in northern Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The UN confirmed that its 25-truck convoy encountered large crowds immediately after crossing checkpoints. Staff reported gunfire even after warning shots were fired.
Hunger and Exhaustion Ravage Gaza’s Population
The ministry has issued urgent warnings that widespread starvation is escalating. Staff at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City say they continue to receive malnourished civilians in a state of collapse.
“Children are dying of hunger… People are surviving on water and salt,” said a woman at a hospital entrance, speaking to BBC Arabic.
The UN also reported that 90,000 women and children urgently need malnutrition treatment.
Conflicting Reports from the Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim they used warning shots to protect soldiers and assets. Yet they also dispute the casualty numbers.
Conversely, Gaza’s civil defence agency states that 93 people died and dozens more were wounded across multiple aid sites, including Rafah and Khan Younis.
Aid Distributions Under Attack
Palestinians have faced deadly fire while queuing for food since May. For example, last weekend, 32 people were reportedly killed near aid distributions in southern Gaza.
Reports from AFP and Reuters include eyewitness accounts of sniper and shelling strikes targeting desperate crowds waiting for flour and other essentials.
Possible Evacuation Order Raises Alarm
Meanwhile, the IDF has told residents of Deir al-Balah—a central Gaza town—to evacuate as part of preparation for a possible ground offensive. The evacuees include thousands of displaced persons.
The military asserts that Hamas may be holding Israeli hostages in the area. The UN warns that forced mass displacement could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis.
International Condemnation and Outcry
The UN, WFP, and rights groups have condemned the shooting.
“This is completely unacceptable,” said the WFP in a public address. Pope Leo XIV also called for an “immediate end to the barbarity of the war.”
Read more on global responses at The Guardian.
Human Cost: Voices from Gaza
Dr Hassan al‑Shaer, medical director at Shifa Hospital, said the facility is “overwhelmed” by casualties and the starving crowd.
A local named Qasem Abu Khater told AFP that troops were firing as people scrambled for aid. He said, “It was like hunting animals in a forest.”
