At a moment that captures Gaza's desperation, a recent video circulated by the United Nations depicts bullets falling on the ground inches from a group of Palestinians waiting in silence for food.
The video, posted by the UN's humanitarian coordination office (OCHA), depicts individuals quietly sitting in the ground as a UN relief truck loaded with food arrives. With a burst of dust, suddenly bullets fired into the area hit nearby, sending people cowering. The UN said Israeli troops were firing warning shots, despite having families sitting silently, in hopes of receiving a meal. One or more people were reported to have been injured and treated by UN personnel.
This is not an isolated incident. Hundreds of Palestinians have died in the past few months at food distribution centers. Though the Palestinian authorities blame the Israeli military, Israel attributes the mayhem to Hamas. But the scenes in this video speak a grim tale of people putting their lives at risk simply to eat.
Gaza has been under a virtual total aid blockade since March, when Israel greatly reduced the entry of food, medicines, and other necessities. The outcome has been lethal: the UN reports 74 hunger deaths, the majority of them in July. Palestinian sources estimate more than a thousand individuals have perished attempting to receive aid.
UN representative Olga Cherevka, in the field, said the convoy was delayed for more than two hours on the border and compelled to move without fully securing the goods. Gaza's roads are destroyed and 92% of its buildings are damaged or destroyed, so even transferring the aid is risky.
Israel has declared partial ceasefires to allow some aid in, but most say it's far too little. Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets indicate Netanyahu is mulling a complete blockade of Gaza something that can further exacerbate the crisis.
Even Donald Trump, Israel's most outspoken supporter, has labeled Gaza's hunger crisis an utmost concern a break from his typical position.
