At least 51 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 others injured after Israeli tank shellfire struck crowds waiting for aid trucks in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Medical personnel and local residents said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at a large group of people gathered along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. Witnesses described chaotic scenes at Nasser Hospital, where emergency wards were overwhelmed, forcing staff to treat victims in hallways and on the ground due to overcrowding.
The Israeli military has not yet issued a statement on the incident.
This marks another deadly episode in a series of attacks near humanitarian aid sites in Gaza. Just a day earlier, at least 23 people were reported killed by Israeli gunfire near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution point in Rafah, also in the southern Gaza Strip.
While the GHF said it has distributed over three million meals from its four operational sites “without incident”, local officials say violence near these locations is becoming increasingly common. The UN has criticized the GHF’s Israel-backed distribution model as unsafe and inadequate, citing violations of humanitarian neutrality.
The recent escalation comes amid a broader conflict that began in October 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In retaliation, Israel began a full-scale military campaign in Gaza, which has now killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
The International Court of Justice is currently hearing genocide allegations against Israel, while the International Criminal Court is investigating possible war crimes. Israel has strongly denied all such accusations.
Iran-Israel Conflict Adds Tension
The ongoing exchange of airstrikes between Iran and Israel, which began Friday with Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, has also raised fears of a wider regional war.
Some residents in Gaza have expressed cautious hope that Iran’s intervention could lead to a shift in the regional power balance. Speaking to reporters, local resident Saad Saad said:
“We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv… They are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents.”
Another, Taysseir Mohaissan, praised Iran’s show of force:
“Iran showed a lot of patience… the time has come for it to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson.”
Despite efforts from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar to negotiate a renewed ceasefire, there has been no progress. Both Israel and Hamas remain entrenched in their demands, continuing to blame each other for the collapse of negotiations.
With hunger deepening, humanitarian systems strained, and violence escalating on multiple fronts, international pressure is mounting for a solution that remains elusive.
