Ten Palestinians died Friday awaiting aid in Gaza, increasing the recent death toll to nearly 800 in six weeks. The United Nations (UN) reported these alarming figures, prompting the Israeli army to issue new instructions to its troops. Meanwhile, negotiators from Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect talks in Qatar, striving for a temporary ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently expressed hope for a 60-day pause in the conflict, aiming to then negotiate a more permanent end to hostilities. However, Hamas states that the unrestricted flow of aid remains a primary sticking point in the discussions. Gaza’s two million residents confront a severe humanitarian crisis, enduring widespread hunger and disease.
In late May, Israel eased a two-month blockade on aid. Subsequently, the new US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has largely supplanted the extensive UN-led aid delivery network. Reports frequently describe Israeli forces firing upon individuals seeking aid.
UN Raises Alarm Over Aid Site Fatalities
Moreover, the UN refuses cooperation with GHF, citing concerns that the organization serves Israeli military objectives. On Friday, the UN reported 798 aid-related deaths between late May and 7 July, with 615 occurring near GHF sites. Ravina Shamdasani, UN rights office spokeswoman, condemned these actions, stating, “Where people are lining up for essential supplies… they have a choice between being shot or being fed, this is unacceptable.”
While Israel’s military did not immediately comment on Friday’s deaths, it has previously accused militants of firing at civilians near aid centers. Responding to the UN figures, the military stated it minimizes “possible friction” between aid seekers and soldiers. They also conduct “thorough examinations” of incidents where civilians were harmed. Furthermore, they issued new instructions to field forces based on lessons learned.
Competing Claims and Ongoing Conflict
GHF labeled the UN report “false and misleading,” claiming UN convoys link to most deadly attacks. Mahmud Bassal, Gaza’s civil defense agency spokesman, told AFP that Israeli forces killed 45 people across the territory on Friday.
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks were sighted near Khan Yunis. A witness reported “intense gunfire, intermittent air strikes, artillery shelling, and ongoing bulldozing.” Israel’s military confirmed troops are operating against “terrorist infrastructure sites, both above and below ground.”
Hamas has offered to release 10 hostages as part of a potential truce, which would leave 10 living hostages still captive. Netanyahu hopes to complete this first phase quickly, anticipating a 60-day ceasefire to negotiate further, insisting that Hamas must disarm and relinquish control of Gaza for any lasting peace. Disagreements also persist regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released as Hamas demands “real guarantees” for a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Since the 7 October 2023 attack, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported over 57,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians. Of 251 hostages taken, Israel confirms 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 presumed dead.
