The UN’s human rights office (OHCHR) says that since May 27, at least 798 Palestinians have died while trying to obtain humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Of these, 615 deaths occurred near aid distribution centers run by the U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with the remaining 183 deaths occurring along convoy routes.

Most casualties were caused by gunshot wounds, according to OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, who voiced deep concern over what she described as “atrocity crimes” occurring at aid points. The GHF denies culpability, asserting that the most lethal outcomes have involved UN convoys and blaming “looting” by militias for the chaos.

The crisis unfolds amid gasoline shortages, hospital overcrowding, and escalating violence—the latter including recent Israeli airstrikes that killed seven civilians at a school sheltering displaced persons. Médecins Sans Frontières warns of a “sharp and unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition,” reporting strained neonatal units, with multiple babies sharing incubators.

While EU-brokered deals aim to improve aid access, impediments persist, and skepticism remains high over the safety of aid distribution corridors. The statistics highlight a brutal reality: for many Palestinians in Gaza, the quest for survival has become perilous, even deadly.