More than 600 Palestinians have been killed during aid distribution efforts in Gaza since late May, according to the United Nationsn, most of them shot near food delivery points supposedly established to alleviate famine. Far from offering relief, the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” backed by the US and Israel, has become a deadly trap for the hungry.

UN officials revealed that at least 509 people were killed near the Foundation’s sites alone, many while waiting for food. Survivors recount scenes of chaos: families gathering for a chance at survival, only to be met with gunfire from Israeli forces.

The Foundation began operations on 26 May, after Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for nearly three months. But rather than ensuring safety and dignity, its operations have fuelled further bloodshed, raising serious questions about its legitimacy and purpose.

UN agencies and international NGOs have distanced themselves from the Foundation, refusing to participate in what they describe as a violation of humanitarian principles. Behind the façade of aid, many see a calculated effort to bypass international relief channels while punishing a population already pushed to the brink of starvation.

As famine tightens its grip, the international community must decide whether it will continue to look away, or finally confront the reality: Palestinians in Gaza are being killed while reaching for food.