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As many as 56 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours, including 38 aid seekers at the distribution sites, mostly in Rafah, said the Gaza health ministry the UN considers credible.

 

The killings in Gaza are going unnoticed since the international community is focused on the recent developments between Iran and Israel, who are exchanging missile volleys after Israel carried out preventive air strikes targeting Tehran's nuclear and military infrastructure. The latest killings took place on Monday at the controversial sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by the US and Israel.

 

Critics of this aid programme condemn the violence taking place near the distribution and allege that these have become Hunting grounds and “human slaughterhouses”.

 

The United Nations human rights chief condemned Israel’s conduct of its war in the besieged enclave, where deadly Israeli attacks continue unabated as the country exchanges missile attacks with regional foe Iran.

 

Also read: Trump urges all of Tehran to evacuate 'immediately'

 

More than 300 people have been killed so far near the perilous distribution sites, and more than 2,000 have been wounded since GHF began its operations.

 

The GHF began distributing a trickle of food aid in Gaza at the end of May after Israel partially lifted a nearly three-month total blockade on food, medicines and other essential items, leading to fears of famine. No other aid has been allowed in by Israel, which, in effect, has kept the punishing blockade in place.

 

The United Nations and other humanitarian groups have refused to comply with GHF, citing concerns that it prioritises Israeli military objectives over humanitarian needs and bypasses organisations with decades of experience in providing food and medicine to tens of locations for the entire population in Gaza.

 

This month, operations at the GHF aid distribution hubs were temporarily halted after several incidents of deadly violence in Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor, where Israeli forces opened fire on aid seekers.

 

Meanwhile, the Gaza death toll has crossed 55,432. With estimates suggesting thousands more buried under the rubble and over 1200000 more injured since October 2023, the Health Ministry said on Monday.