• Israeli air strikes killed at least 34 Palestinians during Eid al-Adha celebrations.
• Aid distribution in Gaza was halted due to overcrowding and safety concerns.
• Over 54,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the beginning of the conflict.

On the day of the Eid al-Adha celebrations, Israeli air strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 34 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip. This tragic event occurred amid severe food shortages affecting the local population, exacerbated by the continued closure of aid distribution centers established by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which had been shut down for the third consecutive day. Reports indicate that among the dead were children, with some fatalities connected to violent confrontations at these aid centers, particularly in Rafah, where individuals were shot while trying to collect supplies, according to Middle East Eye.

Violence escalated with multiple air strikes conducted predominantly in the northern regions of Gaza. Local health authorities confirmed that 16 Palestinians were killed in these attacks. Additionally, an explosion in Khan Younis led to the deaths of four Israeli soldiers, bringing the total military fatalities to eight since early June. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described this period as “a sad and difficult day,” emphasizing the grim nature of the ongoing conflict, as reported by both Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

In a troubling turn, the GHF announced a pause in its food distribution efforts due to overcrowding at its sites, which they deemed made it unsafe to continue. Amid reports of a chaotic and poorly organized distribution process, the organization initially communicated mixed messages about whether aid deliveries had occurred effectively during Eid. The GHF later noted that they had distributed around 8,160 boxes of food, but many locals struggled to gain access because they were forced to travel long distances to the distribution points, facing risks from military responses, according to sources including Middle East Eye and others.

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates, the United Nations has warned of a looming famine affecting a significant portion of the region's population. With acute malnutrition rates among children nearly tripling, the dire state of affairs has compelled multiple health officials to call for urgent international attention. Eyewitness accounts have implicated Israeli soldiers in civilian casualties, exacerbating an already volatile environment where safety protocols remain inadequate, as highlighted by Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.