A week after Israel allowed more aid into the Gaza Strip, at least 325 people have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach food, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The figure includes 24 deaths on Saturday in various parts of the territory.
Despite Israel’s assurances of a humanitarian pause in attacks, international condemnation has grown over its restrictive measures on aid. Aid agencies say it is still far from enough, as nearly all the food has been looted by armed gangs and hungry crowds before it can reach warehouses for distribution.
The crisis prompted President Trump to dispatch two U.S. officials to Gaza with Israeli troops, where they saw a food distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. However, Hamas criticized the visit, saying it was “pre-planned” to deceive public opinion.
A UN report recorded 859 deaths near GHF sites from May 27 to July 31, with hundreds more along food convoy routes. Health officials in Gaza reported seven more deaths from malnutrition-related causes within the last 24 hours.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Saturday’s strikes or gunfire near aid locations in Gaza. Meanwhile, U.S. funding is being used to support Christian churches in Gaza, as Jewish leaders and Democrats call for a ceasefire in the conflict.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/02/nx-s1-5490943/gaza-palestinians-deaths-food-aid