Desperate Crowds in Gaza Face Starvation as Israel's Blockade Continues

Desperate crowds of Palestinians fled towards food distribution points and airdropped parcels in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as Israel's blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid. The territory teeters on the brink of famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas, with aid groups stating that Israel's measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. The families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation, but blame Hamas for the situation, while hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire while attempting to reach food distribution sites and aid convoys since May.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 100 Palestinians have been wounded and at least 16 have been killed on Sunday near the Israeli-controlled Zikim Crossing, the main entry point for aid to northern Gaza, according to records at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
• Several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while heading toward food distribution sites and aid convoys, according to witnesses, local health officials, and the United Nations human rights office.
• Israel's blockade has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid, leading to the territory's slide towards famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas.
• Aid groups say Israel's week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient, with international alarm mounting over the situation.
• Several countries have airdropped aid over Gaza, but aid groups and the UN call such drops costly and dangerous for residents, and say they deliver far less aid than trucks.
• Many food parcels dropped by air have splashed into the Mediterranean Sea or landed in so-called red zones, from which Israel's military has ordered people to evacuate.
• Palestinians risk their lives to get flour and other basic goods, with at least one parcel falling on a tent where displaced people had been sheltering, injuring a man who was taken to a hospital.
• Associated Press footage showed a desperate scramble when the aid parcels hit the ground, with hundreds of people racing towards them, and fistfights breaking out.
• Rabah Rabah, a witness, stated that the airdrops are inhuman, and expressed a wish for the aid to be delivered through the land crossings.

Statistics:

• Over 130 people were wounded on Sunday near the Israeli-controlled Zikim Crossing.
• At least 16 people were killed on Sunday near the same location.
• Several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May.
• Palestinians risk their lives to get flour and other basic goods, with many food parcels being dropped in the Mediterranean Sea or landing in red zones.

Sources:

• Local health officials
• Witnesses
• United Nations human rights office
• Associated Press footage
• Shifa Hospital in Gaza City records
• Aid groups and the UN