Sixteen Palestinians were reported killed in Gaza on Friday following intensified Israeli military action, according to local health authorities. Strikes targeted the Jabalia, Tuffah, and Khan Younis areas, although the Israeli military has not commented on these casualties.
Witnesses and medics reported a significant increase in aerial and tank bombardments in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun beginning early Friday. The violence comes amid continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which reignited in March after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire.
Israeli Evacuation Orders and Controversial Aid Efforts Deepen Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Fears
In response to the ongoing operations, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted evacuation instructions for residents of specific blocks in northern Gaza. These measures are part of broader military efforts following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the current phase of the war. The re-escalation has brought widespread devastation to Gaza and renewed fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Israeli Strikes Kill 16 in Gaza as Evacuations and Aid Turmoil Deepen Humanitarian CrisisAmid the turmoil, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) resumed aid deliveries on Friday. This came despite an earlier announcement on Facebook that all its distribution sites would remain closed for safety reasons after deadly shootings near its locations. The organisation had temporarily reopened two sites in southern Gaza on Thursday but continues to operate under intense scrutiny and criticism, particularly from the United Nations, over alleged partiality—an accusation GHF denies.
Aid Chaos, Safety Fears, and Military Warnings Undermine Relief Efforts in War-Torn Gaza
Palestinians at GHF sites have described the distribution process as chaotic and lacking clear organization. Footage shared by the group itself has shown disordered scenes at its facilities. GHF halted operations on Wednesday to pressure Israeli forces into ensuring greater safety at and around its locations after a spate of deadly incidents near Rafah over three days. In response, the Israeli military has said that only warning shots were fired at Palestinians approaching troops, and that the aid operations proceeded without incident.
To facilitate aid access, Adraee announced that Palestinians would be allowed “free movement” to aid centres between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. but warned that the area would become a “closed military zone” outside of those hours, posing serious risks to civilians. These developments underscore the fragile and dangerous conditions under which humanitarian aid is being delivered in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict continues to devastate lives and infrastructure.