Rafah: Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday opened fire at a crowd of Palestinians who gathered at an aid distribution hub to the north of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in six deaths and 15 injuries.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the forces fired live ammunition and missiles at civilians waiting for food parcels at the distribution point. This incident follows Israel's unilateral decision to end the Gaza ceasefire agreement and resume military actions in the region on March 18, leading to numerous airstrikes and significant casualties.
Medical sources report that the recent wave of violence has increased the death toll to at least 3,924, with 11,267 others wounded. Within the past 24 hours alone, 28 Palestinians, including five bodies recovered from rubble, were admitted to hospitals in Gaza, excluding those in the northern Strip.
The renewed aggression has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where an ongoing siege has restricted the entry of medical and humanitarian aid. Since the escalation began in October 2023, Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of 54,084 Palestinians, including a significant number of women and children, and injuries to 123,308 others.
Statistics from medical sources indicate that since October 2023, the fatalities include 16,854 children and 20,594 young men, making up 31.5% and 38% of the total death toll, respectively. Additionally, at least 10,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, presumed trapped under the debris of their homes.
The conflict has led to the displacement of nearly two million people across the Gaza Strip, with most seeking refuge in the already densely populated southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border. This displacement marks the largest mass exodus in Palestinian history since the 1948 Nakba.
