Gaza Massacre: Over 60 Palestinians Killed by Israeli Forces While Waiting for Humanitarian Aid in Khan Younis

Aid Distribution Turns Deadly: Israel Accused of Targeting Civilians in Gaza

U.S.-Backed Project Faces Accusations of Militarizing Humanitarian Assistance and Undermining International Law

In a horrifying escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians waiting for food aid south of Khan Younis on Tuesday, killing more than 60 people and injuring over 200, according to local medical sources. At least 20 victims remain in critical condition following the attack, which took place near an aid distribution point.

Medical teams at Nasser Medical Complex described the scene as one of the bloodiest massacres in recent weeks, highlighting the urgent need for international protection for aid seekers in Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health issued a statement condemning the attack as a “massacre against starving civilians” and warned that continued assaults on aid distribution sites threaten to deepen the humanitarian catastrophe.

Controversial U.S.-Israeli Aid Project Accused of Facilitating Forced Displacement

The massacre coincides with a controversial U.S.-Israeli humanitarian initiative that began on May 27, involving aid distribution through a private American company in southern and central Gaza. While framed as a humanitarian effort, the project has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and international aid organizations, who accuse it of militarizing relief efforts and facilitating the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Foreign policy analyst Alexander Langlois, writing for The National Interest, argued that the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” is part of a larger strategy to shield Israel from international accountability. He described it as a continuation of President Biden’s floating pier project, intended to portray Israel as a humanitarian actor while it imposes a siege and starvation campaign on Gaza.

“This is not humanitarianism; it’s political cover for war crimes,” Langlois wrote. “Placing aid centers inside militarized zones is a calculated move to force Palestinians from their homes and re-engineer Gaza’s demographics.”

Pattern of Attacks on Civilians at Aid Sites in Gaza

Tuesday’s massacre is not an isolated incident. Since the beginning of the war on Gaza, Palestinians have been repeatedly targeted while trying to access basic necessities like food and water. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that aid collection points have become high-risk environments, with civilians risking death for a bag of flour.

This pattern of violence aligns with what analysts and human rights organizations call a “starvation strategy”—using food as a weapon of war. Such practices violate international humanitarian law, specifically Article 54 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

Legal Cases Mount Against Israel as Global Silence Persists

The incident in Khan Younis comes amid growing international legal action. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing a case filed by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, partly based on evidence that starvation is being used as a weapon.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for allegedly committing war crimes, including deliberate starvation of civilians, a charge explicitly outlined in the Rome Statute.

Langlois notes that the U.S.-backed aid initiative in Gaza may also be intended to undermine these legal proceedings by creating the false impression that Israel is facilitating aid rather than obstructing it. However, the deadly conditions under which Palestinians are being killed while waiting for that same aid contradict that narrative.

Global Inaction and the Price of Survival in Gaza

Despite mounting evidence of war crimes and repeated humanitarian warnings, the international community remains largely silent. Efforts to implement a ceasefire or hold Israel accountable have so far failed.

For millions of Palestinians, daily survival in Gaza has turned into a dangerous gamble. With the threat of famine rising and safe access to aid nearly impossible, they face a cruel reality: to die in line waiting for bread or die under bombs.