At Least 85 Palestinians Killed Seeking Aid Amid Gaza Evacuations

At least 85 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while trying to access food aid across Gaza, marking one of the deadliest days for aid-seekers in over 21 months of conflict, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The majority of fatalities occurred in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing, where aid trucks from the U.N. World Food Program were distributing supplies but came under Israeli gunfire, leading to chaotic scenes and numerous casualties. Israel's military stated it fired warning shots at a large crowd it deemed an immediate threat, disputing the higher death toll reported by Palestinian officials and accusing Hamas militants of causing chaos. The Israeli Defense Forces also issued new evacuation orders for central Gaza, areas where they had previously avoided ground operations, causing alarm among aid organizations located there. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with casualties and severely strained due to food shortages and malnutrition, with reports indicating hundreds of potential deaths from starvation and lack of medical supplies. International aid groups condemned the violence against civilians seeking aid and called for increased humanitarian access amid the ongoing blockade and conflict.