Israeli Strikes Kill 44 in Gaza as Aid Crisis Deepens; UNICEF Warns of Looming ‘Man-Made Drought

 Gaza | June 21, 2025 — At least 44 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Friday, including many seeking humanitarian assistance, according to local health officials, as violence and deprivation escalate in the war-torn enclave. The deaths occurred amid growing international alarm over the collapse of essential services, with the United Nations' children’s agency warning that drinking water scarcity has reached critical levels, posing a lethal threat to Gaza’s children.

The Hamas-run health authority reported that 25 people were killed near an aid distribution site south of Netzarim in central Gaza, where civilians had gathered in anticipation of food deliveries. The location is part of a month-old U.S.-backed distribution network overseen by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with other humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations, also operating in the area.

Responding to the incident, the Israeli military said its forces had fired warning shots at suspected militants who advanced within a crowd and later launched an airstrike that it claimed “eliminated the suspects.” The military acknowledged that others may have been injured and stated that a formal review is underway. GHF clarified that the violence did not take place within or near its aid distribution zone.

Separately, at least 19 additional fatalities were reported in Israeli strikes across Gaza, including 12 members of a single family killed in a residential building in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza.

Water Crisis and Child Malnutrition Worsen

Speaking from Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder warned that Gaza is on the brink of a “man-made drought,” with fuel shortages crippling the operations of desalination plants and water wells. “Children will begin to die of thirst… Only 40% of drinking water facilities are still functioning,” he said, noting that the availability of potable water is “well below emergency standards.”

UNICEF also reported a 50% surge in malnutrition among children aged six months to five years between April and May, and warned that over half a million people are currently facing hunger.

Rising Civilian Casualties at Aid Points

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire near aid distribution sites. While Israel claims such actions are necessary to prevent security breaches or disperse crowds deemed threatening, humanitarian groups and witnesses allege that many of the shootings were unprovoked and lacked warning. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the “vast majority” of patients treated at its field hospital since the launch of the GHF aid system on May 27 reported being wounded while attempting to access food aid.

In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of intentionally targeting civilians seeking food, calling it a tactic of “weaponizing hunger.” Israel has denied the allegation, instead accusing Hamas of diverting aid—a claim the group has refuted. UNICEF, however, criticized GHF’s logistics, saying it was “making a desperate situation worse.” GHF, in turn, defended its efforts, stating it has distributed nearly three million meals across its sites without incident.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolds

The war in Gaza was triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas militants, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a sustained military campaign that has so far killed nearly 55,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displaced virtually the entire population of over 2 million.

As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, aid agencies are calling for immediate international intervention to protect civilians, ensure safe delivery of relief, and restore access to essential services. The situation, they warn, is rapidly spiraling beyond control.