51 Killed Seeking Aid in Gaza Horror

At least 51 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, including 14 people waiting for humanitarian aid, according to medical sources who spoke to Al Jazeera.

The deaths occurred amid escalating violence around distribution points run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that “great progress” was being made toward ending the war.

In the early hours of the morning, Israeli fire near the Netzarim Junction in central Gaza claimed the lives of at least nine Palestinians who had gathered in hopes of receiving food or aid.

Medical teams at al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospitals confirmed the casualties and said several more were wounded in the attack.

The GHF, backed by both Israel and the United States, has drawn increasing scrutiny since it began operations in Gaza at the end of May.

Critics, including United Nations agencies and international NGOs, say the organization’s aid distribution model fails to meet humanitarian standards and instead deepens the suffering of civilians by intertwining food access with military operations.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud described the perilous conditions under which aid is distributed.

GHF centres, he said, are often placed within close proximity of Israeli military positions, complete with tanks, armoured vehicles, and snipers.

“When large crowds gather, they are vulnerable to Israeli fire,” Mahmoud reported. “People are given just 20-minute windows to collect food.

Once that time elapses, gunfire often erupts. It’s one of the tragic reasons so many are dying at these sites.”

Despite mounting casualties and public outrage, GHF has denied responsibility for the violence.

The Israeli military has maintained that incidents near aid centres are triggered by the approach of “suspects,” a claim widely rejected by rights groups.

In a separate incident, five people were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a home in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza. Another three members of the same family died in the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp. Witnesses said there had been no warning before the bombs fell.

Ramzi Khaled, a Gaza City resident, told Reuters that the bombing of a shelter had resulted in horrifying scenes of devastation. “They are all in pieces,” he said, describing the aftermath. “We retrieved what we could … and are still digging for others under the rubble.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Health issued a dire warning on Wednesday, stating that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse.

A strict Israeli blockade continues to prevent life-saving medical supplies from entering the territory.

On the other hand, the few remaining hospitals struggle under the weight of critical injuries and limited capacity.

Intensive care units and inpatient wards are “filled beyond limits,” the ministry said.

As Gaza reels, Israel is also absorbing losses.

On Tuesday, seven Israeli soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion were killed during operations in Gaza.

The military confirmed their deaths and noted that one additional soldier from the same unit was seriously wounded and evacuated for treatment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a very difficult day for the people of Israel,” as the country grapples with the mounting toll of its prolonged military campaign.

Since the war began in October 2023, 879 Israeli soldiers have been killed.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts appear to be gathering pace.

Qatar’s Prime Minister said on Tuesday that indirect talks between Hamas and Israel may begin in the coming days.

A senior Hamas official confirmed that discussions with Egypt and Qatar have “intensified,” although no formal proposal for a ceasefire has yet been tabled.

From The Hague, President Trump expressed optimism about an impending peace deal.

“I think great progress is being made on Gaza,” he said, suggesting that recent U.S. strikes on Iran had increased pressure on all sides to end hostilities.

Trump’s special envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, reportedly told him that Gaza is “very close” to a peace deal.

Analysts say Trump’s involvement could reshape negotiations, especially as public sentiment in Israel shifts away from continued warfare.

“Trump is more popular in Israel right now than Netanyahu,” said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior fellow at Chatham House.

“He may be the one who delivers what Israelis want most—an end to the war and the return of the remaining hostages.”

But for Gaza’s civilians, trapped amid famine, bombardment, and crumbling infrastructure, peace still feels a long way off.

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