At least 9 Palestinians were killed and 78 others wounded on Friday after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid in Al-Shakoush, northwest of Rafah, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and local medical sources.

The victims had gathered near a GHF aid distribution site, one of the few remaining hubs in southern Gaza, when Israeli troops reportedly fired into the crowd. The high number of casualties overwhelmed local hospitals, prompting urgent calls for blood donations and emergency supplies.

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone strike near the Al-Nazla roundabout in northern Gaza injured five civilians, adding to the growing toll of attacks on displaced populations and aid seekers.

Earlier in the day, 15 more Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes across the Strip, including in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah, where residential areas and shelters were targeted.

Since the start of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023, at least 57,762 Palestinians have been killed and 137,656 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Humanitarian organizations warn that the true death toll may be higher, with thousands of bodies still trapped under rubble due to relentless bombardment and lack of rescue equipment.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has condemned Israel’s recent actions as part of a systematic plan to transform southern Gaza into a mass detention zone, accusing the Israeli government of engineering a forced demographic shift under the guise of humanitarian protection.

The so-called “humanitarian zones” have been repeatedly bombed, including Mawasi, which Israel itself declared unsafe in March. Aid seekers continue to face deadly risks, with over 800 Palestinians killed near aid sites since late May, according to the UN Human Rights Office.

Despite multiple UN Security Council resolutions and provisional measures from the International Court of Justice demanding an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians, Israeli military operations have intensified.

UNRWA and other agencies report that over 90% of Gaza’s population is now displaced, with hundreds of thousands living in tent camps without access to food, water, or medical care.

The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene, as rights groups warn that the mass reconcentration of civilians in southern Gaza may amount to ethnic cleansing and genocide under international law.

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