UN Reports Rising Casualties in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict, Including Attacks on Aid Distribution Centers

Hostilities in Gaza have intensified, leading to a surge in civilian casualties—many of them among people gathering for food and aid at newly established, militarized distribution sites. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating day by day, with numerous accounts of deaths and injuries as residents attempt to access essential supplies in areas such as Rafah and Deir al-Balah.

In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern over reports of Palestinians being killed or injured while seeking aid, describing it as “unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.” He called for an immediate and independent investigation into recent attacks near aid distribution points and stressed that those responsible must be held accountable. Guterres emphasized Israel’s clear obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance and urged for conditions that permit aid workers to operate with safety and respect for humanitarian principles.

The crisis was underscored on Sunday morning when at least 31 people were killed and dozens more seriously injured after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire close to a humanitarian aid point in Rafah, southern Gaza. While local health authorities attribute the attack to Israeli forces, Israel has denied any involvement. Amidst the growing violence, the OCHA highlighted the increasing dangers for those in need, noting that over 40 percent of dialysis patients in Gaza have died since October 2023 due to strikes on medical facilities and limited access to healthcare.

Displacement continues on a massive scale, with new evacuation orders from Israeli authorities affecting around 100,000 individuals living in more than 200 displacement sites across Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. Within these zones, vital healthcare infrastructure—including hospitals, field clinics, and primary care centers—faces disruption, putting already vulnerable populations at even greater risk.

Since the breakdown of a ceasefire in March, over 640,000 people, nearly a third of Gaza’s population, have been forced to move again. The resultant closures of schools and learning spaces have deprived at least 8,000 students of education, setting back children’s access to safe and structured environments.

Efforts to combat malnutrition are ongoing but severely hampered by shortages and restrictions. Last week, humanitarian teams managed to distribute nutritional supplements to about 40,000 children despite facing major obstacles to aid delivery. As deprivation deepens, incidents of looting—largely desperate people taking flour from open aid trucks—have become more frequent, though some organized criminal activity has also been reported. Security measures imposed on aid convoys have complicated distribution further.

Guterres has joined with other humanitarian leaders in calling for a complete lifting of restrictions on the flow of aid and essential goods to Gaza. Water scarcity remains a significant concern, with the main pipeline in Deir al-Balah still out of operation and repeated refusals for repair missions. Attempts to distribute potable water in displaced persons camps have been routinely denied by Israeli authorities, exacerbating the plight of residents.

Over the weekend, aid organizations were able to collect limited supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, yet only sporadic access has been possible, hampered by closures and operational restrictions. Even when the crossing is open, tight controls drastically limit what can be brought in, meaning that current aid levels are woefully insufficient compared to the vast needs across the region.

As Gaza’s humanitarian emergency grows, calls for unrestricted aid access and the protection of civilians continue to mount, with the UN and relief agencies warning that without immediate changes, the consequences for the population will become ever more dire.