The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May. This updated figure represents a substantial increase from the last report published by the agency at the beginning of August. A statement from the agency’s office for the Palestinian territories revealed that most of these tragic deaths were committed by the Israeli military.
The report specifically documented that 994 people were killed in the vicinity of humanitarian foundation sites. An additional 766 Palestinians lost their lives while traveling along the various routes of supply convoys.
The Israeli military responded by stating that its troops are working to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and taking precautions to mitigate civilian harm. New plans for a comprehensive offensive in Gaza have now been officially approved by the Israeli military’s chief of staff.
This new operation is aimed at completely defeating Hamas and freeing all of the remaining hostages held in the territory. The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory.
Residents of Gaza City have recently told reporters of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas. The Israeli government’s plan to expand the war has sparked widespread international outcry as well as domestic opposition.
United Nations-backed experts have issued a stark warning of a widespread famine rapidly unfolding across the territory. This humanitarian crisis is worsening as Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of aid it allows to enter the region.
The ongoing war was originally triggered by Hamas’s devastating October 2023 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people. According to a count from Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s sustained offensive has since killed at least 61,827 Palestinians.