66 Palestinians Killed in Gaza in Two Days Amid Israeli Attacks, Famine, and Internet Blackout

At least 66 Palestinians, including 12 civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, have been killed over the past two days in Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling across the Gaza Strip. The attacks occurred alongside a complete internet and telecommunications blackout, now in its fourth consecutive day, isolating the population from the outside world. The deadly strikes directly targeted gatherings of civilians, marking another chapter in the ongoing Israeli military offensive on Gaza, which has entered its ninth month.

According to medical sources, more than 50 others were injured, many while waiting to receive food aid near a distribution point operated by Israeli and American-affiliated agencies in the Netzarim corridor, west of Gaza City.

Civilians Attacked While Waiting for Food Aid

In a tragic and recurring scene, Israeli drones and artillery fired on civilians gathered to receive aid, most notably west of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. The targeted strike left numerous casualties, adding to the mounting death toll. Four others were killed in a separate attack on Al-Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, according to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

Eyewitnesses said that civilians were waiting patiently for humanitarian trucks when Israeli drones opened fire without warning, exacerbating the already severe food and medical crisis across the Strip.

In Al-Sudaniya, dozens of people gathered after hearing rumors of incoming aid trucks from international organizations, only to be targeted again by Israeli forces, repeating the pattern of what many now describe as mobile massacres.

Hamas denounced the attacks as a deliberate massacre, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war and turning aid points into “death traps for unarmed civilians.”

Gaza Suffers a Complete Internet Blackout During Ongoing War

The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority reported that Israeli forces are deliberately targeting Gaza’s communication and internet infrastructure, cutting off digital access across the territory, from north to south. This digital siege is compounding the humanitarian crisis by blocking access to emergency services, medical care, education, and global media.

The authority confirmed that both fixed and mobile internet services are down, leaving journalists and aid workers unable to communicate. Palestinian reporters are risking their lives to find weak signals near the coast or in open areas just to transmit critical images and updates to the outside world.

The Ministry of Telecommunications also revealed that repeated strikes and fuel shortages are preventing telecom companies from restoring service. Every attempt to repair damaged towers has been met with further Israeli bombardment, further crippling essential infrastructure.

Israeli Admissions, U.S. Pressure, and Famine Warnings

Israel’s repeated attacks on civilians in Gaza have drawn growing international condemnation. Leading global media have highlighted the deepening humanitarian disaster. According to The Washington Post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to allow a limited number of aid trucks for the first time in months is a tacit admission that Gaza is facing an imminent famine.

The Jerusalem Post reported that this shift comes under increasing U.S. pressure, especially after harrowing images of hunger and destruction in Gaza began circulating globally. The newspaper also noted that continued Israeli military operations now depend on sustaining American support, as public opinion worldwide increasingly sides with Palestinian civilians.

The Guardian described a “double threat” to Gaza: relentless Israeli bombing and extreme food shortages. Eyewitnesses told the paper that they no longer trust Israeli claims of humanitarian intent, stating that grief, fear, and shock have become daily realities.

In its analysis, Israeli newspaper Haaretz stated that Israel now faces a pivotal choice: continue a campaign that results in mass starvation and international isolation, or agree to a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the beginning of reconstruction and a political process that could lead to a long-term resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Gaza Under Siege: 183,000 Killed or Wounded Amid Forced Displacement and Starvation

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out a devastating military campaign on Gaza, backed by the United States, resulting in over 183,000 casualties, including tens of thousands of women and children. More than 11,000 people remain missing, and vast areas of the territory have been reduced to rubble. Over 1.5 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced after their homes were destroyed.

Despite the crisis, Israel has allowed only a very limited number of aid trucks to enter through Kerem Shalom, while humanitarian experts say Gaza needs at least 500 trucks daily to meet minimum food and medical needs.

In late May, Israel began distributing aid through a new body called the “Gaza Humanitarian Organization”, which is supported by Israel and the U.S. but rejected by the United Nations, which sees it as a politicized effort to bypass official humanitarian channels and undermine UN credibility.