At least 23 Palestinians were killed and over 200 injured on Tuesday after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians seeking humanitarian aid west of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian media reports.

The victims were among thousands of displaced and starving Palestinians attempting to access food and relief supplies in designated aid distribution zones.

The latest incident comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and follows a deadly trend in recent days. On Monday, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from attacks near aid distribution centers had risen to 75, with 35 Palestinians killed in a single day on Sunday. Since May 27, more than 400 people have been injured in similar attacks as Israel continues to enforce limited aid access in southern Gaza through designated zones.

In central Gaza, Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted tents sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, killing at least three people, including a child, according to reports from Al Mayadeen. Additionally, Israeli military vehicles reportedly opened fire in eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City.

The surge in violence comes as international humanitarian organizations intensify their condemnation of the situation in Gaza, where a severe Israeli-imposed blockade has caused widespread hunger and displacement.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) issued a scathing statement on Sunday, denouncing the U.S.-Israeli aid strategy in Gaza as "dehumanizing" and "ineffective," warning that it could constitute a crime against humanity. The organization expressed deep concern that the militarization of aid distribution under the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is being used to justify ongoing military operations and the forced displacement of civilians.

MSF Secretary-General Christopher Lockyear criticized the plan for failing to meet the needs of the population, stating that the aid system is being manipulated to serve political and military objectives rather than provide genuine relief to a population facing famine and daily bombardment.

The international community has been urged to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of civilians and to guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. (ILKHA)