By WAFAA SHURAFA, FATMA KHALED and NATALIE MELZER, Related Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — No less than 38 Palestinians have been killed in a single day and into Wednesday within the Gaza Strip whereas in search of assist from United Nations convoys and websites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor, in response to native well being officers. The Israeli army mentioned it had fired warning photographs when crowds approached its forces.
One other 25 folks have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, in response to native hospitals in Gaza. There was no remark from the Israeli army on the strikes.
The most recent deaths got here as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was anticipated to introduced additional army motion — and probably plans for Israel to totally reoccupy Gaza. Consultants say Israel’s ongoing army offensive and blockade are already pushing the territory of some 2 million Palestinians into famine.
One other escalation of the practically 22-month conflict may put the lives of numerous Palestinians and round 20 residing Israeli hostages in danger, and would draw fierce opposition each internationally and inside Israel. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies have lengthy known as for the conflict to be expanded, and for Israel to ultimately take over Gaza, relocate a lot of its inhabitants and rebuild Jewish settlements there.
U.S. President Donald Trump, requested by a reporter Tuesday whether or not he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, mentioned he wasn’t conscious of the “suggestion” however that “it’s going to be just about as much as Israel.”
Extra Palestinians killed in scramble for meals
Of the 38 Palestinians killed whereas in search of assist, a minimum of 28 died within the Morag Hall, an Israeli army zone in southern Gaza the place U.N. convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and determined crowds in latest days, and the place witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fireplace.
The Israeli army mentioned troops fired warning photographs as Palestinians superior towards them, and that it was not conscious of any casualties.
Nasser Hospital, which acquired the our bodies, mentioned one other 4 folks have been killed within the Teina space, on a route resulting in a website in southern Gaza run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis, an American contractor. The Al-Awda Hospital mentioned it acquired the our bodies of six folks killed close to a GHF website in central Gaza. GHF mentioned there have been no violent incidents at or close to its websites.
Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza Metropolis, within the north of the territory, killing 13 folks there, together with six kids and 5 ladies, in response to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which acquired the our bodies.
The Israeli army says it solely targets combatants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas as a result of its fighters are entrenched in closely populated areas. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by the USA, Canada and the European Union.
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Palestinians carry the physique of an individual who was killed whereas making an attempt to succeed in assist vehicles getting into northern Gaza Strip via the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Picture/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Palestinians carry the physique of an individual who was killed whereas making an attempt to succeed in assist vehicles getting into northern Gaza Strip via the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Picture/Jehad Alshrafi)
UN consultants say Israeli-backed assist group needs to be dismantled
Israel facilitated the institution of 4 GHF websites in Could after blocking the entry of all meals, medication and different items for two 1/2 months. Israeli and U.S. officers mentioned a brand new system was wanted to stop Hamas from siphoning off humanitarian assist.
The United Nations, which has delivered assist to tons of of distribution factors throughout Gaza all through the conflict when circumstances permit, has rejected the brand new system, saying it forces Palestinians to journey lengthy distances and danger their lives for meals, and that it permits Israel to manage who will get assist, doubtlessly utilizing it to advance plans for additional mass displacement.
The U.N. human rights workplace mentioned final week that some 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in search of assist since Could, largely close to GHF websites but in addition alongside U.N. convoy routes the place vehicles have been overwhelmed by crowds. It says practically all have been killed by Israeli fireplace.
This week, a bunch of U.N. particular rapporteurs and unbiased human rights consultants known as for the GHF to be disbanded, saying it’s “an totally disturbing instance of how humanitarian reduction might be exploited for covert army and geopolitical agendas in severe breach of worldwide legislation.”
The consultants work with the U.N. however don’t characterize the world physique.
The GHF didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The Israeli army says it has solely fired warning photographs when crowds threatened its forces, and GHF says its armed contractors have solely used pepper spray and fired into the air on some events to stop lethal crowding at its websites.
Israel’s blockade and army offensive have made it practically unimaginable for anybody to securely ship assist, and assist teams say latest Israeli measures to facilitate extra help are removed from adequate.
Hospitals recorded 4 extra malnutrition-related deaths during the last 24 hours, bringing the entire to 193 folks, together with 96 kids, because the conflict started in October 2023, in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry.
Jordan says assist convoy attacked by Israeli settlers
Jordan mentioned Israeli settlers blocked roads and hurled stones at a convoy of 4 vehicles carrying assist sure for Gaza after they drove throughout the border into the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution. Israeli far-right activists have repeatedly sought to halt assist from getting into Gaza.
Jordanian authorities spokesperson Mohammed al-Momani condemned the assault, which he mentioned had shattered the windshields of the vehicles, in response to the Jordanian state-run Petra Information Company.
The Israeli army mentioned safety forces went to the scene to disperse the gathering and accompanied the vehicles to their vacation spot.
Hamas-led terrorists killed some 1,200 folks, largely civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped one other 251. Many of the hostages have been launched in ceasefires or different offers. Of the 50 nonetheless held in Gaza, round 20 are believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, in response to Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say what number of have been fighters or civilians however says round half have been ladies and youngsters. It’s a part of the now largely defunct Hamas-run authorities and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and unbiased consultants take into account it probably the most dependable supply for the variety of conflict casualties.
Khaled reported from Cairo and Melzer from Tel Aviv. Israel. Related Press writers Stefanie Dazio in Berlin and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
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