At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza early Friday, while 20 more were shot dead while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to hospital sources.
The UN human rights office reported that a total of 613 people have died near humanitarian aid convoys and distribution points in Gaza since late May. These sites are operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American organisation.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN rights office, said the agency could not yet assign responsibility for the deaths. However, she noted that “it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points.”
Nasser Hospital confirmed that eight women and a child were among the victims of the latest airstrikes. Of the 20 people shot while seeking aid, two were killed in Rafah, and 18 others died near trucks delivering supplies in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the most recent attacks.
In a separate development, the military confirmed the death of one Israeli soldier in northern Gaza. More than 860 Israeli troops have died since the war began, with over 400 falling during ground operations inside Gaza.
The renewed escalation comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, now in its 21st month.
Hamas announced that it is in discussions with other Palestinian factions over a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to respond before the situation deteriorates further. Hamas said it would issue a final response after internal consultations.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. Although the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths, it states that over half of the casualties are women and children.
Since the opening of aid distribution points in May, hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been killed or injured while attempting to access supplies. Witnesses and local health officials accuse Israeli forces of firing on civilians, while the Israeli military maintains that it only uses warning shots and is investigating reports of civilian harm.