At least 91 Palestinians were killed while trying to access food aid in Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, as humanitarian conditions worsen across the besieged territory. The reported fatalities come as Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The health ministry said a total of 111 people died across Gaza in the past day. Two of the deaths were caused by malnutrition, bringing the official hunger-related death toll to 159 since Israel’s military campaign began last October.
The strikes and aid chaos come as talks to secure a ceasefire and hostage release remain stalled, with Washington’s diplomatic influence under pressure following Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state—a move Trump says could impact U.S.-Canada trade ties.
Hospitals in northern Gaza reported mass casualties near the Zikim crossing, where dozens were killed while waiting for humanitarian aid. The director of Al-Shifa Hospital said it received the bodies of 54 people from a single incident.
The Israeli military acknowledged that its forces had fired warning shots in response to a perceived threat at the location but denied knowledge of casualties from that incident. No further clarification has been provided.
Humanitarian agencies warn the territory is slipping further into famine. Aid deliveries remain inconsistent, and looting of food trucks has intensified. The UN’s food security agency confirmed that most of its aid convoys were intercepted by starving civilians shortly after entry.
“We’re watching people die while trying to survive,” a local health worker said in a statement released through aid monitors.
Steve Witkoff’s visit comes at a pivotal time in U.S. diplomacy. The envoy met Netanyahu in Jerusalem Thursday morning, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog describing the meeting as “critical” for advancing negotiations to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
Of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 148 have returned alive. Twenty are still believed to be alive in Gaza. Trump recently suggested he still preferred a negotiated outcome but warned he was prepared for “more ruthless” options if talks fail.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump said: “The fastest way to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release the hostages!!!” Trump criticized Netanyahu’s false claim that there is “no starvation” in Gaza, stating publicly that “real starvation” is unfolding.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that 270 aid trucks and two fuel tankers were allowed into Gaza on Wednesday. Another 32 pallets of food were airdropped with support from Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE.
Despite these efforts, aid organizations say the volume falls far short of the 500 to 600 daily trucks needed to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Israel to open “safe corridors” for aid deliveries and said the death toll in Gaza had reached “unimaginable proportions.” “Israel is increasingly finding itself in a minority position,” he said ahead of his visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. Germany also announced it would take part in upcoming aid drops.
Canada’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state has added weight to mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel. The move follows similar announcements from France and the United Kingdom. Trump said the shift could jeopardize existing trade deals with Ottawa.
German officials have indicated that formal recognition from Berlin could follow, although they maintain that Palestinian statehood should be the outcome of a negotiated process.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated this week that recognition would proceed in September if there is no material change on the ground in Gaza.
Palestinians in Gaza expressed cautious hope. “This recognition gives us some dignity,” said Ibrahim Faris, who lost multiple relatives in recent airstrikes. “But we need food, medicine, and peace not just statements.”
Since October 7, the health ministry in Gaza says 60,239 people have been killed. While Israel disputes these figures, independent agencies confirm that the humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently warned of “catastrophic hunger” across northern Gaza. Aid groups have called for an immediate ceasefire to enable mass-scale relief operations.
The Trump’s administration has not formally commented on Witkoff’s visit, and no timeline has been confirmed for renewed ceasefire negotiations.
With hostilities still active and food insecurity worsening by the day, Gaza’s civilian population remains at the center of a conflict with no clear end in sight.
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