The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepened further over the past 24 hours as Israeli attacks claimed the lives of at least 39 Palestinians, among them civilians waiting for aid, and left 317 others wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

These latest casualties push the overall death toll since the start of Israel’s devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, to more than 55,998, with the total number of injured now exceeding 131,559.

Among those killed were 17 aid seekers, struck by Israeli gunfire while gathered near food distribution points. At least 136 others were injured in similar attacks. The Health Ministry reported that since May 2024, 467 civilians have been killed and 3,602 injured at U.S.-Israeli aid centers across the Strip.

Witnesses describe scenes of chaos and despair, with families risking their lives just to receive basic supplies. Hospitals, already stretched beyond capacity, are struggling to treat the wounded amid critical shortages of medicine, equipment, and power.

The ongoing attacks on aid seekers and densely populated civilian areas have intensified international criticism of Israel’s military campaign, which rights groups have labeled as disproportionate and unlawful. Calls for a ceasefire, accountability, and the protection of humanitarian corridors are growing louder as Gaza’s suffering shows no sign of easing. (ILKHA)