In Gaza, even the desperate act of waiting for food can be a death sentence. On Tuesday morning, eight more Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded as Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd gathered for humanitarian aid near the “Netzarim” axis, south of Gaza City. The victims, all unarmed civilians, had assembled in hopes of receiving food parcels. Instead, they were met with gunfire.

Medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed seven deaths at the scene, while Al-Awda Hospital received one deceased and 50 injured, ten of whom remain in critical condition. The shooting occurred along Salah al-Din Street in the Wadi Gaza area, one of the few remaining lifelines for the besieged population.

Since May, a joint Israeli-American aid initiative has claimed to offer limited relief. But eyewitnesses and rights groups have consistently accused Israeli forces of targeting civilians at these very distribution points. In effect, Palestinians are being forced to choose between starvation and execution.

Palestinian health authorities now report at least 580 killed and over 4,200 injured at such aid points, with dozens still missing. These are not combatants, they are the hungry, the displaced, the exhausted.

With more than 185,000 Palestinians dead or wounded since October 2023, and over 11,000 unaccounted for, Gaza is not just a war zone, it is a killing ground, where hope is punished and survival is met with bullets. And still, the world watches on.