At least 44 Palestinians were killed on Thursday as Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on civilians seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Palestinian medical officials reported that 41 Palestinians were killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours, including 14 individuals who were waiting near aid trucks to receive food and supplies.

The situation remains dire as humanitarian access continues to be restricted. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that 79 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in a single day, with 33 of those deaths occurring during attempts to obtain food aid. Witnesses and health officials claim Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on aid seekers, with hundreds killed in similar incidents in recent weeks.

In a separate development, three Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank on Thursday following an attack by Israeli forces. Additionally, local media reported a deadly assault by over 150 armed Israeli settlers—reportedly backed by Israeli soldiers—on the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah. The settlers’ attack led to the deaths of three more Palestinians, according to local sources.

Meanwhile, resistance fighters in Gaza continue to carry out armed operations against Israeli forces. On Wednesday, seven Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed after Palestinian fighters detonated an explosive device on their vehicle.

The escalation highlights the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the rising death toll in the West Bank, amid international appeals for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access. (ILKHA)