Israel kills 116 people in Gaza including aid seekers as world stands idle

CAIRO – 19 July 2025: Israeli forces in Gaza have killed at least 116 people since Saturday dawn, including 38 humanitarian aid seekers, according to local reports as the war continues for the 21st month amid global incompetence to stop the bloodshed.

Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza despite ongoing indirect talks with Hamas to secure a 60-day ceasefire and a prisoner-captive swap agreement, which is set to include the release of 10 living captives still held there.

Since October 7, 2023, nearly 59,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, most of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israel is also targeting Palestinians near aid distribution centers of the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to eyewitnesses.

On Wednesday, the GHF admitted deaths near one of its distribution units in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.

Israeli forces on that day fired tear gas on starving Palestinians at starving Palestinians, killing 21 people, mostly due to suffocation and stampede, according to the health ministry.

The ministry accused the Israeli occupation and the GHF of “deliberately committing massacres against the starving in a systematic manner using various methods.”

Hamas has called the GHF’s distribution centers “death traps” with hundreds of aid seekers killed near them since the organization started aid deliveries through fixed points across the enclave late in May, despite objection by the UN agencies.

Despite reported breakthrough in the negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, the achievement of a ceasefire seems to remain so far uncertain.

Earlier this week, Egypt, Qatar, and the US reportedly presented an updated ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues obstructing a deal, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two sources.

The changes include the extent of Israeli forces’ withdrawal from Gaza during the ceasefire period and the number of Palestinian prisoners set to be released per each captive.

Despite reported progress in the negotiations, Hamas has repeatedly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of placing obstacles in the face of efforts to reach a deal in order to prolong the war for personal interests.

Hamas on Friday warned that “there is no guarantee” that they will return to the proposal that includes a partial ceasefire and the release of 10 living captives “if the enemy persists and reneges on this round as it has done every time.”