Israel just committed another bloody massacre against children waiting in line for food

In a scene that reflects the scale of the ongoing humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation army committed a bloody massacre on Thursday 10 July, killing 16 Palestinian civilians, including eight children and two women, after directly targeting a civilian gathering in the city of Deir al-Balah in the center of the Strip while they were waiting in line to receive food supplements for children.

Gaza: more women and children killed by Israel

This crime comes in the context of an open war waged by the occupation on the Gaza Strip for more than 20 months, which has claimed the lives of more than 56,000 civilians and led to the almost complete destruction of the infrastructure.

Under the blockade and the collapse of vital sectors, humanitarian aid distribution centers have become the last resort for civilians suffering from starvation, milk and medicine shortages, and the absence of any basic necessities.

In Deir al-Balah, dozens of residents, mostly women and children, walked for miles under the scorching sun to reach a food distribution point run by a local humanitarian organization. Moments before the aid reached them, a surprise Israeli airstrike tore apart the children’s bodies and scattered their remains among the food bags.

Details of another Israeli massacre in an increasing humanitarian disaster

According to medical sources at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the bodies of 16 martyrs, including eight children and two women, were brought in, in addition to serious injuries among civilians, most of whom suffered from severe burns and lacerations. Medical staff spoke of “horrific scenes” due to the extent of the injuries, given the limited medical resources and ongoing power cuts.

This was not the first time that the occupation targeted civilians trying to obtain humanitarian aid. Israel has killed more than 400 people and wounded hundreds of civilians who sought to obtain a little food amid worsening famine conditions at sites designated for food distribution.

International organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Programme, have previously warned of the catastrophic deterioration of the food situation in Gaza, especially in the center and south of the Strip. Field reports confirm that a large proportion of children are now suffering from emaciation and severe malnutrition, as the occupation restricts the entry of food and medicine shipments and obstructs aid at the crossings.

The repeated targeting of relief points further complicates the crisis and raises questions about the effectiveness of the international response, which has fallen short of the scale of the tragedy. Faced with the scene of scattered body parts and grieving parents, the question arises once again: how long will the occupation be allowed to escape punishment?

A cry that goes unheard

Amid the silence of the international community and the impotence of human rights organizations, the suffering of civilians in Gaza continues, with no safe haven and no exception for children. Amid the daily massacres, food aid has become a target, and walking to it is an adventure that may end in a white shroud instead of a carton of milk.

Gaza is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in its modern history, with famine reaching critical levels amid a near-total halt in humanitarian aid.

For months, the Israeli occupation has imposed a suffocating blockade that has led to the closure of most land crossings and prevented the entry of food and medical supplies, including shipments of milk and infant formula. This has led to the collapse of supply chains and the inability of international organizations to deliver aid, causing widespread hunger and malnutrition, especially among children and infants.

With relief centers being targeted and convoys restricted, humanitarian needs have exceeded warning levels, amid suspicious international silence and the UN’s inability to enforce safe humanitarian corridors.

Featured image via the Canary