Egypt Daily News – The United Nations Office for Human Rights reported on Friday that at least 798 people have been killed in Gaza while trying to obtain food aid since the end of May, underscoring the extreme risks civilians face simply in their search for basic survival.
A spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said 615 of the victims were killed near aid distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Another 183 died along roads used by aid convoys.
This grim development adds to an already devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. The vast majority of these casualties are believed to be civilians, with women and children making up a disproportionate share of the dead. Thousands more remain missing under rubble or in areas that are inaccessible to rescue teams.
The OHCHR’s report emphasized that many of those killed while seeking aid were not caught in combat, but were unarmed civilians queuing for food in an area facing catastrophic levels of hunger and malnutrition. Aid distribution has become not only sporadic but also perilous, often taking place in insecure zones where no clear protection guarantees exist for those in need.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed entity that manages a portion of the aid deliveries, reportedly relies on private American security and logistics companies. These operations function largely outside the traditional UN-led humanitarian framework, raising concerns about coordination, accountability, and the safety of civilians drawn to their distribution points.
International humanitarian agencies continue to warn that the ongoing blockade and military operations have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. The World Food Programme and other UN bodies have said that access to aid must be drastically improved, and civilian lives must be protected under international law.
As the death toll climbs and conditions on the ground worsen, the tragedy unfolding in Gaza highlights not only the impact of war but the deadly consequences of restricted humanitarian access. For thousands of families, a trip to collect food has become a life-threatening decision.
