Israeli forces in northern Gaza fatally shoot 67 Palestinians seeking aid.

Palestinians pictured carrying aid supplies in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on Sunday

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that the Israeli military killed at least 67 people waiting for UN aid lorries in northern Gaza. The UN World Food Programme stated that its convoy of 25 trucks encountered gunfire from hungry civilians after crossing from Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have fired warning shots to eliminate an immediate threat and disputed the reported death toll. The ministry warned of increasing extreme hunger in Gaza, with hundreds at risk of death due to starvation.

The ministry recorded 18 deaths from famine in the past 24 hours. Gaza's civil defense agency reported a total of 93 people killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire on Sunday. The World Food Programme condemned the violence against civilians seeking aid as unacceptable.

Israeli airstrikes have targeted central Gaza, prompting evacuation orders for residents and displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah. The IDF has not yet launched a ground offensive in the area but has issued warnings of potential attacks, causing panic among the population.

Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate end to the war's barbarity and criticized the indiscriminate use of force. Israel initiated the war in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. Israeli strikes have led to a significant death toll in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.