“There is no mercy there, no mercy. People go because they are hungry but they die and come back in body bags.”

Sunday’s (AEST) reported mass shooting was the latest in a series of such incidents that the United Nations rights office said had seen at least 798 people killed trying to get food in the past six weeks.

As truce talks falter, a further 17 Gazans are killed at an aid distribution point shooting. Source: AP / Abdel Kareem Hana

After partially lifting a total blockade of all goods into Gaza in late May, Israel launched a new aid distribution system, relying on US and Israeli-backed group Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) to distribute food under the protection of Israeli troops.

The United Nations has rejected the system as inherently dangerous and a violation of humanitarian neutrality principles. Israel says it is necessary to keep militants from diverting aid.

GHF says it uses “limited, non-violent crowd control measures when necessary to prevent chaos and protect civilians”.

‘Torn to pieces’: fresh airstrikes kill dozens

“We found them torn to pieces, their remains scattered,” he added.

A Palestinian woman carries the body of her son, Majd Ahmed, 6, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, 12 July 2025. Source: AP / Jehad Alshrafi/AP

The Israeli military said on Saturday it had attacked “approximately 250 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip” in the previous 48 hours.

It said fighter jets hit “over 35 Hamas terror targets” around Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

Gaza ceasefire talks falter

Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar pushing for an agreement which envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals and discussions on ending the war.

Two Israeli sources said Hamas wanted Israel to retreat to lines it held in a previous ceasefire before it renewed its offensive in March.

Thousands demonstrate in Israel for hostage deal

Sharabi was abducted during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, and held hostage for 16 months in Gaza.

Israelis continue to protest for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Source: AP / Oded Balilty

After his release in early February, he learned that his wife and two young daughters had been murdered during the attacks. The body of Sharabi’s brother, Yossi, is still being held in Gaza.