As US envoy and ambassador arrive to inspect humanitarian efforts, deadly scenes unfold near food distribution points under Israel’s ongoing blockade.
Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis took a deadly turn on Friday morning as Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on Palestinians waiting for food aid near the Morag Corridor, south of Khan Younis. According to Al Jazeera Arabic, at least two civilians were killed and over 70 others injured while seeking lifesaving supplies.
The incident comes ahead of a high-profile visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff and US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who are set to tour aid distribution sites in Gaza amid mounting global concern over the humanitarian toll. Their visit aims to assess relief operations, even as the death toll from hunger and violence continues to rise.
Local medics confirmed that two infants and a young man succumbed to starvation this week, bringing Gaza’s hunger-related death count to 154. Of those, 89 were children—tragic symbols of the deepening crisis under Israeli-imposed restrictions on humanitarian aid access.
Since the conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed an estimated 1,139 Israelis and resulted in over 200 captives, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have resulted in at least 60,249 Palestinian deaths and 147,089 injuries, according to Gaza health officials.
Despite growing international pressure, aid convoys continue to face severe limitations, leaving civilians in desperate conditions. The US delegation’s presence raises hopes for renewed diplomatic momentum—but for many Gazans, survival remains a day-to-day struggle.