Deir al-Balah, Gaza | November 28, 2025:
A humanitarian tragedy unfolded in central Gaza on Thursday after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for food aid trucks near Deir al-Balah, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 40, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The shooting, reported around 10:00 AM local time, marks the deadliest aid-distribution incident since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as Israeli soldiers allegedly used machine guns and sniper fire from tanks to disperse thousands of civilians crowding around trucks delivering flour and canned goods. Many had waited overnight amid intensifying famine warnings, with the UN estimating 1.9 million Gazans are now at risk of starvation due to severe shortages and restricted access.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack as a “massacre” and urged the International Criminal Court to investigate. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant defended the shooting, claiming troops acted in “self-defense against looters” who he said endangered the convoy.
UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths called the incident “unconscionable amid an ongoing blockade” and demanded an independent international probe. Humanitarian groups say aid entry into Gaza has dropped by 70% since Israel tightened border controls following renewed Hamas rocket fire earlier this month.
The violence further strains a population already devastated by war. UN figures show over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict erupted, while Israel cites 1,200 deaths from the October 7 attacks. Protests swept through Ramallah and Amman, with Jordan’s King Abdullah II summoning Israel’s ambassador in protest.
Diplomatically, the shooting threatens to derail fragile ceasefire efforts. Truce talks in Doha remain stalled as mediators Qatar and Egypt push Israel and Hamas toward a 48-hour humanitarian pause. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a cautious statement urging “restraint and protection of civilians.”
As of 2:00 PM GMT on November 28, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, raising fears of broader regional escalation amid heightened international outrage.
