Six More Die From Hunger in Gaza as Dozens Are Killed Seeking Food

At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food and six others died from starvation or malnutrition in Gaza yesterday, Palestinian officials said, amid a regional outcry over an Israeli minister's visit to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site.

- William Christou

Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on hungry crowds who were attempting to get food aid from a distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the south of the territory, with some describing the fire as indiscriminate.

"I couldn't stop and help because of the bullets," Yousef Abed told the Associated Press after seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground as Israeli forces opened fire.

Yesterday's killings were the latest in a string of deadly shootings targeting hungry people. At least 1,400 people have been killed while seeking aid since 27 May, most of whom were killed near GHF sites, while others were killed along the routes of aid convoys, the UN said on Friday. The GHF says it only uses pepper spray or fires warning shots to control crowds.

In total, 119 people were killed in Gaza by Israeli shootings and strikes over the last 24 hours, including those seeking aid, the Gaza health ministry said.