At least 60 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip. Most of the victims were trying to get food when they were shot, according to local health officials.
Near Netzarim, in central Gaza, 25 people died. Dozens more were injured. They were approaching a food center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Later that day, 14 others were killed. They were walking toward another GHF distribution point in Rafah, near Gaza’s southern border. A day earlier, 17 more Palestinians were killed near GHF locations. 
Israeli Hostage Bodies Recovered
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and internal security agency Shin Bet recovered the bodies of two Israeli hostages from Gaza.
One was identified as Yair Yaakov. He was 59 years old, a father of three. He had been abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack. That assault left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered the ongoing war.
The second recovered body has not yet been named. Israeli authorities believe that 53 hostages remain in Gaza, though most are likely dead.
Death Toll Passes 55,000
The Gaza Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 55,000 since the conflict began. This ministry is run by Hamas, but its data is considered reliable by the United Nations and many international bodies.
In recent weeks, more deaths have occurred near GHF food centers. On Wednesday, the Center for Constitutional Rights, a New York-based legal group, issued a warning.
Legal Threats to GHF
The group said GHF could be held legally accountable. They cited possible complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even genocide.
“As Palestinians now face mass starvation,” said senior attorney Katherine Gallagher, “Israel has teamed up with GHF to make getting food not just dangerous but deadly. It has become a method of forced displacement.”
She added that GHF may face legal consequences. These could come in the United States or elsewhere.
Food Used as a Weapon?
Israel is under investigation by the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide. One key claim is that food is being used as a weapon against Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
Experts have warned about GHF’s setup. They say concentrating food at militarized sites forces desperate people to cross combat zones.
Leadership Changes at GHF
The first executive director of GHF, Jake Wood, resigned last month. He said the group’s strategy violated basic humanitarian principles.
Then, the Boston Consulting Group — which helped launch GHF — ended its involvement.
GHF’s new chair is Johnnie Moore. He is an evangelical adviser to Donald Trump. He has strongly supported Israel but has little humanitarian experience.
Israeli Military Responds
The IDF stated that its soldiers had fired “warning shots.” The shots targeted what they called a threatening group. This happened even after warnings that the area was a combat zone.
The army said it is reviewing reports of injuries.
GHF’s Response to Criticism
GHF told Reuters it was not aware of Wednesday’s incidents. It said it works closely with Israeli officials. The group emphasized the need for Palestinians to follow instructions.
“Our goal is to deliver more aid,” the foundation said. “That will reduce panic and bring more certainty. But the current environment is extremely unstable.”
The group admitted that there still isn’t enough food. Their focus now is feeding as many people as they safely can.
Millions of Meals Delivered
Moore posted online that he had visited a GHF distribution center in Israel. He claimed GHF delivered 2.5 million meals on Wednesday alone. Since starting operations on May 27, the group says it has distributed 16 million meals.
That same day, GHF accused Hamas of killing five Palestinians. The victims were employees riding a bus to a distribution site. GHF said the attack would not stop its work.
“We will continue our mission to provide critical aid to the people of Gaza,” the group stated.
Activists Held in Isolation
Meanwhile, an Israeli human rights group, Adalah, reported harsh treatment of foreign activists detained at sea.
One of them, Brazilian protester Tiago Ávila, is being held in Ayalon Prison. He began a hunger and thirst strike two days ago and is now in solitary confinement.
Another detainee, Rima Hassan, is a French-Palestinian and a Member of the European Parliament. She was held in Neve Tirza Prison. According to Adalah, she wrote “Free Palestine” on a cell wall and was put in a small, windowless cell with poor hygiene.
She has since been released from isolation. As of now, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded to these reports.
