At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza early Friday, while 20 more died in shootings as they waited for humanitarian aid, according to a hospital morgue that received their bodies, reports UNB.
The latest casualties come as the UN human rights office reported Friday that it has recorded 613 deaths near humanitarian convoys and aid distribution points in Gaza, operated by an Israeli-backed American organization since its operations began in late May.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN rights office, said the agency could not yet attribute responsibility for the killings. However, she stated, “it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points” run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Among those killed in Friday’s airstrikes were eight women and a child, Nasser Hospital confirmed. Of those shot dead while waiting for aid, two were killed near distribution points in Rafah, while 18 others died near trucks delivering supplies in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the latest strikes.
Separately, the military confirmed that one Israeli soldier was killed in combat in northern Gaza and that an investigation is underway. More than 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the conflict began, including over 400 during ground fighting inside Gaza.
The surge in violence comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the war, which has stretched into its 21st month.
Hamas announced Friday that it is holding discussions with other Palestinian factions regarding a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and called on Hamas to accept the proposal before conditions worsen.
Hamas said its final response to the mediators will be given after consultations with other Palestinian groups are completed.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll in the enclave has surpassed 57,000. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties but says over half of the dead are women and children.
The war began when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
Since the opening of aid distribution sites in Gaza in May, Palestinian witnesses and the Health Ministry say hundreds have been killed or wounded by Israeli troops while attempting to access supplies.
The Israeli military insists it has only fired warning shots, denies targeting civilians intentionally, and says it is investigating reports of harm to non-combatants.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
