GAZA CITY (BN24) — At least eight Palestinian humanitarian workers affiliated with the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were killed in a deadly ambush in southern Gaza, the organization said Thursday, blaming Hamas militants for the attack. The killings, which targeted a convoy en route to an aid distribution center, have further destabilized humanitarian operations across the enclave amid a deepening conflict and widespread infrastructure collapse.
According to the foundation, gunmen opened fire on a bus transporting more than two dozen staff members late Wednesday. Several workers were injured, and some may have been abducted, GHF officials reported. The ambush threatened to halt the foundation’s food aid delivery but operations resumed on Thursday in defiance of what GHF called “cowardly murderers.”
“Despite the risk, we decided the best response to Hamas was to continue delivering food to the people of Gaza who are counting on us,” said John Acree, GHF’s interim director, in a statement.
Hamas has not commented on the attack. However, unverified social media reports from inside Gaza alleged the bus was targeted due to its perceived affiliation with Yasser Abu Shabab, a local clan leader armed by Israel and a known opponent of Hamas’s 18-year rule in the enclave.
In a Facebook statement, Abu Shabab denounced what he described as extrajudicial killings and the suppression of dissent. “Rumors of executions and killings are being spread by the corrupt, mercenaries, and criminals of Hamas in an attempt to sow fear in the hearts of those who seek change and liberation from terrorism, oppression, and unjust rule,” he wrote.
As the situation deteriorated, Gaza experienced a near-total internet blackout. According to the United Nations, Israeli military operations likely damaged the last active fiber-optic cable connecting Gaza to global networks, severing vital communications.
“Lifelines to emergency services, humanitarian coordination, and critical information for civilians have all been cut,” U.N. Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said. “There is a full internet blackout, and mobile networks are barely functioning.”
The Israeli military declined to comment on the communications disruption.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that 103 Palestinians were killed and 400 injured by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours alone, including 21 people near GHF food distribution sites. The Israeli military reported killing three Hamas fighters after an anti-tank missile was launched toward its troops, and also said it struck a building near a medical center allegedly being used for weapons manufacturing.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered mass evacuations from multiple neighborhoods in central Gaza and later issued similar warnings for residents in Khan Younis and nearby areas. “The IDF is operating with great force in the areas where you are located,” said IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee in a message posted to X.
Israel also reported arresting several Hamas members in Syria overnight, accusing them of plotting attacks against Israeli targets.
Despite the ambush, GHF said it distributed a record 2.6 million meals on Thursday, operating under a new aid model implemented in late May. The United Nations has criticized the model as ineffective and dangerous, particularly due to recurring violence at aid sites.
“This model will not address the deepening hunger. The dystopian ‘Hunger Games’ cannot become the new reality,” wrote UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on X. “The UN, including @UNRWA, has the knowledge, expertise & community trust to provide dignified & safe assistance. Just let the humanitarians do their jobs.”
UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, has been accused by Israel of collaborating with Hamas, a claim the agency has repeatedly denied. Calls by Israel for UNRWA’s dismantling have intensified in recent months.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 180 people have died near aid distribution points in the past three weeks, accusing Israeli forces of indiscriminate fire. Israel disputes those figures, claiming Hamas is responsible for much of the violence.
In addition to GHF operations, Israel continues to permit limited aid into Gaza, including flour for the few functioning bakeries. For the first time in months, Israel allowed trucks carrying humanitarian aid into northern Gaza overnight. Fifty-six trucks operated by the U.N. World Food Programme crossed into the war-ravaged region under Israeli coordination.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has continued for over 20 months following Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. All efforts to broker a cease-fire or lasting truce have failed. Amid the collapse of negotiations and mounting civilian suffering, international pressure on all sides to halt the violence and allow for uninterrupted humanitarian relief continues to grow.
