‘Daily episode’ of death: 18 killed by Israeli fire in Gaza as US envoy visits aid site, meets hostage families

At least a dozen Palestinians including eight people seeking food were killed on Saturday by Israeli fire, according to hospitals in Gaza, highlighting the growing risks civilians face while trying to access aid in the war-torn enclave.

One of the deadly incidents occurred near a distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Yahia Youssef, who had arrived in search of aid, recounted scenes of chaos and bloodshed. After helping evacuate three injured individuals, he noticed several others lying on the ground, bleeding. “It’s the same daily episode,” he said.

The violence comes amid increasingly desperate attempts to obtain food, with Palestinians braving gunfire and relying on airdrops due to limited overland aid access.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza staged demonstrations, calling on the government to intensify efforts to secure the release of their loved ones. Their appeal follows the recent release of new hostage footage by militant factions.

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US envoy Steve Witkoff met with the families on Saturday, offering a gesture of support as they gathered in central Tel Aviv. Videos posted online captured the moment protesters welcomed Witkoff with chants of “Bring them home!” and “We need your help,” before he entered a closed-door session with the families.

The meeting followed Witkoff’s Friday visit to a US-supported aid distribution site in Gaza, where he reviewed ongoing efforts to deliver food into the embattled territory.

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Humanitarian experts have warned that Gaza now faces what they describe as a “worst-case scenario of famine,” as insecurity and logistical barriers hamper relief operations. The territory, home to around two million people, has been severely affected by Israel’s prolonged military campaign against Hamas.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Since then, Israel’s offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is managed by the Hamas-run government.

Although the ministry does not separate civilian from militant casualties, its figures are widely cited by the UN and international aid groups as the most credible available.

With inputs from agencies