Israeli forces kill 25 Palestinians waiting for food aid in Gaza

TEL AVIV: Israeli forces have continued targeting civilians gathered near aid distribution centres in Gaza, with 25 Palestinians shot dead on Friday while waiting for food trucks south of Nuseirat in central Gaza.

The Israeli military stated that the gunfire was directed at militants who allegedly emerged from within the crowd. They claimed prior warnings had been issued and that civilians may have been unintentionally harmed. An investigation into the incident is reportedly underway. Gaza remains gripped by a worsening humanitarian crisis, with acute shortages of food and essential supplies.

Since late May, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks near aid delivery points. On Friday alone, 48 deaths were reported across the Gaza Strip, pushing the overall death toll past 55,700.

The United Nations has raised alarms about an escalating water crisis in Gaza, warning that with critical infrastructure destroyed, the region is now facing severe drought conditions.