Israel Kills Eleven Palestinians Seeking Aid in Gaza, Including Children

(MENAFN) At least 11 Palestinians, including three children, were killed early Saturday in Israeli air and artillery strikes targeting civilian gatherings waiting for humanitarian aid in southern and central Gaza, medical sources confirmed.

The deadliest incident occurred when an Israeli strike hit a group of children on Al-Mansoura Street in Gaza's Shejaiya neighborhood, east of the city. A medical official told media that three children were killed, and another was critically wounded.

In a separate attack, Israeli airstrikes on civilians waiting for aid south of the Wadi Gaza area resulted in five fatalities and 15 injuries, including four critically wounded. The injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza.

Earlier on Saturday, three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces near an aid distribution point west of Rafah city in southern Gaza. Eyewitnesses confirmed that these victims were killed while standing in line for humanitarian aid at sites controlled by the Israeli military.

Further reports emerged of shootings in the Nitzarim area in central Gaza, where several Palestinians were hit while attempting to access aid.

Since May 7, Israel has bypassed UN and international relief organizations, distributing limited aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been heavily criticized and rejected by the UN. Palestinians relying on this aid have increasingly become targets of Israeli fire, leading to mounting casualties.

In addition to the fatalities, medical sources reported numerous injuries from Israeli airstrikes on various locations in Gaza. Eyewitnesses also described intense artillery shelling in the northern parts of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

Israeli warplanes carried out further airstrikes on the town of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while Israeli forces continued demolishing homes in the northern governorates. In southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis, the Israeli navy intensified its fire on the remaining fishing boats.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 55,700 Palestinians, the majority being women and children, as confirmed by multiple sources. Despite global pressure, Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire.

In November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes committed during the Gaza campaign. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.

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