Gaza, July 16, 2025: At least 51 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, including 21 people who died during a chaotic stampede at an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza, according to medical sources.
The mass-casualty incident occurred at a Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) facility in Khan Younis, where a crowd gathered to receive much-needed relief supplies. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that most victims died from suffocation and trampling amid a surge of desperate civilians. One individual was reportedly stabbed in the chaos.
The ministry rejected GHF’s earlier claims that “armed elements affiliated with Hamas” had sparked the disorder. The foundation had also alleged that a US contractor was threatened at gunpoint and claimed that visible weapons contributed to the panic. Palestinian authorities and witnesses strongly denied those allegations, instead stating that tear gas was fired into the crowd, prompting panic.
The health ministry later confirmed that 15 people died due to stampede-related injuries, while six others succumbed to suffocation or related causes, bringing the total death toll at the site to 21.
The deadly incident comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported that 10 children per day are losing one or both legs due to the ongoing conflict. Since the beginning of hostilities, more than 134,000 people, including over 40,500 children, have been wounded.
OHCHR also revealed that over 35,000 civilians are suffering from significant hearing loss due to repeated blasts and airstrikes. The agency warned of long-term psychological and medical trauma, with Gaza’s health infrastructure in near-collapse.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the opening of a new corridor in southern Gaza named the Magen Oz Corridor, which divides the Khan Younis area into eastern and western zones. Spanning 15 kilometers, the new route connects to the previously established Morag Corridor, which was constructed in April to isolate Khan Younis from Rafah.
According to the Israeli military, the corridor aims to dismantle the remaining Hamas brigade operating in the region. Analysts view the move as a sign of Israel’s deepening military campaign in southern Gaza, while aid organisations have raised alarms that the new barrier could worsen civilian displacement and restrict humanitarian access.
In a parallel development, the Israeli Ministry of Defence has submitted a revised proposal for a controversial “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza. The plan, estimated at 4 billion shekels ($1.2 billion), envisions a tent city for 600,000 displaced Palestinians, with provisions for food, water, and electricity.
An earlier version of the plan, introduced by Defence Minister Israel Katz, was rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to concerns over cost and feasibility. However, the new proposal has also drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, who have described it as an attempt at forced relocation, likening the idea to a “concentration camp” under international law.
Amid the escalating humanitarian toll, ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and Hamas have shown what Israeli media are calling “dramatic progress.” According to Channel 13, a potential breakthrough was reached after Netanyahu and the Israeli Security Cabinet agreed to relax some of their demands, including the military’s continued presence in Gaza.
Unnamed officials cited by the outlet said that the proposed framework involves a 60-day pause in hostilities, though combat could resume afterward. Netanyahu has reportedly approved greater flexibility to advance the negotiations but remains opposed to a full end to the war. One Israeli official told Channel 13, “The road to a deal is now paved,” although no definitive timeline has been shared.
Since launching its offensive in October 2023, Israel has carried out a devastating military campaign in Gaza, killing nearly 58,500 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children. The bombardment has flattened entire neighborhoods, decimated food supplies, and left the medical system in ruins.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), further heightening international scrutiny of its actions in Gaza.
