Israel-Gaza conflict: 36 Palestinians killed in gunfire while waiting for aid; 200 injured

At least 36 people were killed and more than 200 wounded on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire on Palestinians while they were trying to access food aid in Gaza, bringing the total number of 163 civilians who lost their lives, according to the health ministry.A similar incident was reported in the southern city of Rafah, where at least eight people were killed while seeking aid. Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, two men and a child were killed, and around 130 others were injured local hospitals told, the Associated Press.Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same day that there is “meaningful progress” in negotiations for a possible ceasefire and the release of some of the 55 remaining hostages in Gaza. Witnesses claimed Israeli drones and tanks opened fire around 2 am, as large crowds gathered hours before the scheduled start of aid distribution.Although the Israeli and US-backed Gaza humanitarian foundation insists that no violence has occurred directly at the distribution points, it paused operations last week to discuss safety concerns with the Israeli military. It has warned civilians to stay on designated routes.

The Israeli military has admitted to firing warning shots in past incidents, claiming people approached their forces suspiciously.One resident, Abed Haniyah, said the shooting was "indiscriminate" and described the daily effort to get food as an act of "humiliation."Three medics from Gaza's health ministry were also killed Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City while responding to an earlier strike on a home.

The Israeli military did not comment on that attack but said it had targeted Hamas infrastructure in the area.The United Nations has rejected the new Israeli-US aid system, saying it breaks humanitarian rules by limiting access and giving Israel control over who receives food. The UN says its own aid delivery system, now sidelined, is more effective and shows no sign of aid being taken by Hamas.The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's response has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which says women and children are the majority of those killed. Israel claims over 20,000 of the dead were militants but has not released evidence.