The relentless Israeli attacks on Palestinians eager to receive aid from distribution centers has caused another tragic day with at least 20 people killed and over 100 injured on Tuesday alone near a site in a critical military corridor in Gaza, according to multiple Palestinian media outlets.
The brutal killings took place near the "Netzarim Corridor", a military corridor about six kilometers long that connects the northern and the southern parts of Gaza and that serves as a critical route for goods and people to enter the northern part of the Strip.
Established by Israel during the war, it is also a military buffer zone aimed at isolating Gaza City and northern Gaza from the rest of the enclave.
The relentless attacks do not deter Palestinian civilians from risking their lives for the distributions as they struggle to survive while battling hunger apart from other hardships.
The tragedy was particularly acute in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where displaced Palestinians were seen flocking to an aid distribution site on a regular basis despite knowing they could be the potential target.
Mohammed Abu Warda, who was injured in both legs in a recent Israeli attack, still walks to the distribution site every day in order to get food for his family.
"We struggled so hard just to get to the aid distribution center, only to be suddenly shot at. We had no idea who was firing, the Americans, the Arabs, or the Israelis? My legs were wounded, and I've been bleeding all the way. I don't know where to go. It is not aid. It's death. We are allured to the site not for the aid but for the death. This is nothing but exchanging blood for a mouthful of food," he said.
The Israeli military has been repeatedly changing the opening times of the aid distribution site and designating some areas as "military zones" during the closed hours, strictly prohibiting civilians from approaching. In desperate effort to secure food, many Palestinians arrive near the distribution site as early as dawn, but only to face gunfire.
"We came at 05:00, just as the Israeli military has required. But their schedules are nothing but all lies," said Youssef Naseer, another Palestinian trying to get some aid supplies from the site.
"Going to get aid is already a life-threatening risk and we often face gunfire. The attack could erupt anywhere and today alone, there are multiple casualties. The situation is desperate, and we can't even secure essentials like food and water. They (Israeli forces) opened fire on us, and their drones also shot at the crowd," said Mohammad Dahman, another Palestinian.
Israeli gunfire kills at least 20 people near Gaza aid site: media
