Of the 73 killed, 67 were shot in northern Gaza, in areas such as Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia. Another six were killed in Khan Younis in the southern part of the enclave.

According to the United Nations, the 25 aid trucks had just cleared inspection at the border and were heading into Gaza when they were met by thousands of starving residents. Gunfire broke out as the trucks approached distribution points.

“The trucks were loaded with food, and people had been waiting for hours. Suddenly, gunfire erupted. It was a massacre,” said a UN staff member on the ground.

However, footage and eyewitness accounts from Gaza hospitals indicate that the victims were unarmed civilians, many of whom were children and elderly people. Hospitals, already overwhelmed and without electricity, struggled to manage the bodies.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and humanitarian groups have raised alarms that starvation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with many families going days without food or water.

A recent UN report revealed that over 875 people have been killed near aid distribution points since late May, with the majority shot by Israeli forces or caught in chaos near convoy sites.

“This is not just a humanitarian failure; it is an abuse of the most vulnerable. Starving people being killed while waiting for food should horrify the world,” said a spokesperson from Human Rights Watch.

The deadly incident has sparked condemnation from humanitarian organizations and governments around the world. The UN Secretary-General called for an immediate independent investigation, saying such attacks may constitute war crimes.

Humanitarian organizations are also demanding secure aid corridors and protections for civilians seeking assistance.