Amman, Aug 2 (Petra) – Israeli forces killed 105 Palestinians and injured at least 680, who were seeking food in Zikim, north of the Gaza Strip, and Morag Corridor south of Khan Yunis, on July 30 and 31, the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian Territory said.

In a statement on its website Friday night, the office said Israeli forces continued to open fire and shell Palestinians along food aid convoy routes and around so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites.

This news came after the Israeli occupation army announced on July 27 a temporary halt to military operations in areas west of Gaza City to Al-Mawasi during certain hours "to improve the humanitarian response."

The UN Office recorded at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while trying to get food since May 27, including 859 who were shot near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and 514 along aid convoy routes.

The office said it had no information that the victims, mostly men and boys, were directly participating in hostilities or posing a threat to Israeli forces or any other party.

The Office also confirmed a rising number of Gzans, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the sick, and the injured, are dying of malnutrition and starvation, often without any support or access to sites where small amounts of aid could be available.

"What is happening is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe as a direct result of policies imposed by Israel that have led to a sharp reduction in the amount of life-saving aid in Gaza," said the office.

The Human Rights Office reiterated that deliberately targeting civilians, who are not directly involved in hostilities, and using starvation as a method of warfare by depriving civilians of means indispensable to their survival, including impeding the delivery of relief, amount to war crimes.

"If committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population, they may also rise to crimes against humanity," said the statement.

//Petra//SS

02/08/2025 14:45:32