At least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since late May, most while seeking humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations Office for Human Rights. The majority of deaths, the UN says, were caused by Israeli military fire.
Between May 27 and August 13, the UN recorded 994 fatalities near facilities of the US- and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and 766 along routes used by supply convoys. The agency noted it is aware of other armed actors in these areas but has no evidence of their involvement in the killings.
The latest figures represent a sharp increase of several hundred deaths in just two weeks compared to the UN’s August 1 update, which reported at least 1,373 Palestinians killed under similar circumstances.
Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, said 23 people were killed on Thursday alone in Israeli strikes on the enclave — including 12 waiting for humanitarian assistance.
The UN’s report highlights ongoing dangers for civilians attempting to access aid in Gaza, amid one of the deadliest periods for the territory in recent months.
