At least 44 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to local rescue officials.
The escalation came just a day after desperate civilians stormed a World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The airstrikes, part of what the Israeli military described as a renewed offensive against Hamas, included a deadly strike on a home in Al-Bureij refugee camp that killed 23 people.
Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir told AFP “44 people have been killed in Israeli raids”, including 23 in a strike on home in Al-Bureij.
“Two people were killed and several injured by Israeli forces’ gunfire this morning near the American aid centre in the Morag axis, southern Gaza Strip,” he added.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reported deaths in Al-Bureij and near the aid centre.
Separately, it said in a statement that its forces had struck “dozens of terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip” over the past day.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the southern Morag area set up as an alternative distribution channel to prevent aid from falling into the hands of Hamas, has drawn criticism from international bodies including the United Nations and the European Union.
The UN has called attention to the severe logistical and security challenges facing aid operations, as well as the growing desperation among civilians.
“What is happening to us is degrading. We risk our lives just to get a bag of flour,” said Sobhi Areef, a resident who had visited the GHF centre on Thursday.
The food crisis reached a tipping point on Wednesday when thousands of Palestinians broke into the WFP’s Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir al-Balah, making off with emergency food supplies. Footage captured by AFP showed chaotic scenes, with gunfire heard as people scrambled to collect food.
“Hordes of hungry people broke into WFP’s Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, in search of food supplies that were pre-positioned for distribution,” the UN agency said in a statement.
The WFP incident has intensified scrutiny on the GHF’s bypass of the longstanding UN-led aid distribution system. Israel defends the new approach, saying it prevents diversion of aid by Hamas.
However, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, accused the UN of trying to obstruct the GHF’s efforts through “threats, intimidation, and retaliation against NGOs.”
Amid growing concerns of starvation, especially with one in five Gazans at risk according to food security experts, the UN insists it is doing everything possible to distribute the limited assistance permitted through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.
Meanwhile, conditions at GHF aid centres have been described as chaotic and dangerous. Witnesses say only the physically strong are able to navigate the crowds to secure aid.
“The young men are the ones getting food. Women and the elderly are being left behind,” said 60-year-old Abu Fawzi Faroukh.
The ongoing war, now in its 18th month, was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that left over 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage.
According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, the death toll since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 stands at 3,986, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed to over 54,000 mostly civilians.
Despite continued diplomatic efforts, including a call on Thursday between EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi who accused Israel of using “systematic starvation tactics”—a ceasefire remains elusive.
