Following a UN statement urging Hamas to disarm and surrender authority in Gaza, the group responded firmly, declaring it would not cease resistance until a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established.

Seventeen nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, Egypt, and institutions like the EU and Arab League, backed the UN call. However, Hamas maintained that its fight will continue until the occupation ends and Palestinian independence is realized.

In a span of two days, more than 100 people have died in Gaza while attempting to collect food. Many others have been injured. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq expressed deep concern, emphasizing, “No one should be forced to risk their life in search of food.”

Haq criticized Israel’s designated routes for humanitarian convoys, calling them unsafe and congested. He urged for unimpeded aid delivery to address the growing crisis fueled by shortages of essential goods.

At least two more Palestinians have died of starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from hunger since October 2023 to 159, according to Al Jazeera. Among the deceased, at least 90 are children. The report highlights a critical shortage of formula for infants. Experts warn that Gaza is currently experiencing the worst phase of famine. Despite Israeli claims of not restricting aid, these are contradicted by UN agencies, European allies, and humanitarian organizations on the ground. On Wednesday morning, six more people were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on a relief center.

Former U.S. Marine Anthony Aguilar, who now volunteers at a Gaza-based relief center affiliated with GHF, recalls a heartbreaking incident on May 28. That day, a young boy named Amir walked over 12 kilometers under the scorching sun, barefoot and visibly malnourished, in hopes of receiving food.

Despite hours of waiting, Amir remained hopeful. He approached Anthony, entrusted him with his belongings, kissed his hand in gratitude, and disappeared into the crowd. Moments later, while leaving the area with other civilians, Amir was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

According to local sources, in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon, 111 people were killed in Israeli attacks — 91 of them were civilians who had gathered in search of humanitarian aid.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution efforts. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. They will meet with local Palestinians to hear directly about the humanitarian crisis and evaluate plans to increase aid. Witkoff also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for what was described as a “productive” meeting.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has called on citizens to ensure the safety of six medical supply trucks entering Gaza on July 30. These trucks carry critically needed equipment to save injured and ill patients. Gaza’s healthcare system is under severe strain due to ongoing Israeli attacks and blockade, which have damaged many hospitals. Humanitarian groups report rising attacks and looting of aid convoys. The ministry’s appeal highlights the urgent need for secure delivery to prevent further worsening of the humanitarian crisis.

At least 104 Palestinians were killed and 399 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Wednesday, according to the region’s health ministry. Since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023, a total of 60,138 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 146,200 injured.

Residents of Gaza have condemned the international community’s practice of airdropping aid, calling it humiliating and dehumanizing.

Ahmed Fayez Fayad, a local resident, said, “We are not dogs waiting for food from the sky. We deserve to live with dignity.” A mother struggling to feed her children added, “My child cries from hunger, and I have to endure this humiliation? We don’t want aid—we want our rights.”

A local teacher summed up the sentiment: “We are not beggars. We just want the right to live safely and with dignity.” Meanwhile, the UN continues to pressure for an end to the blockade on Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to take “urgent, concrete, and irreversible” steps toward a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. “Statehood is a right for Palestinians, not a reward,” he said, warning that denying this right only fuels extremism.

Guterres welcomed recent measures to ease humanitarian restrictions but stressed the need for a “permanent ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access.” He also reaffirmed the UN’s stance that Israeli occupation remains illegal.

At least 80 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in a single day, according to local sources. Additionally, 14 more people — including two children — died due to starvation caused by the ongoing Israeli blockade. The total number of deaths from malnutrition since the war began has now risen to 147, with 88 of them being children.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said his colleagues in Gaza have described civilians as "neither alive nor dead — more like walking corpses." He called for an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering.

The UN has warned of a rapidly worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where one-third of the population is going without food for days and children are dying slowly due to lack of aid. Though Israel agreed to ease some restrictions for a week, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher says much more support is urgently needed to prevent famine. He called for safe humanitarian corridors, fuel access, and a permanent ceasefire, amid reports of civilians being shot while seeking food.

Despite a special ceasefire meant to facilitate humanitarian aid, Israeli forces have continued airstrikes in Gaza, killing at least 63 people, including 34 who were waiting for aid. The Israeli military had declared daily pauses from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in specific areas to allow relief efforts. Aid delivery has begun via the Egyptian border, with Israel also conducting airdrops. The UN welcomed the pause but criticized Israel for limiting access routes, which continues to obstruct critical humanitarian operations in the war-torn enclave.

Despite announcing a humanitarian pause to facilitate aid deliveries, Israeli forces launched fresh attacks on Gaza, killing at least 63 Palestinians, including 34 civilians who were waiting for relief assistance.

Earlier, the Israeli military had declared daily pauses in operations in three Gaza areas from 10 AM to 8 PM to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected populations. However, recent strikes during the truce have drawn international condemnation.

The humanitarian pause was intended to ease the distribution of critical supplies, but continued violence has cast doubt on Israel’s intentions and raised serious concerns about civilian safety during conflict.

The United Arab Emirates and Jordan have conducted food airdrops over Gaza, delivering 25 tons of aid between Saturday and Sunday. Footage shows parachutes carrying supplies over Khan Younis. While the origin of all the aid items hasn't been fully verified, reports suggest that Israel continues using food as a weapon in its siege on Gaza, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

The United States has accused Hamas of lacking genuine intent to reach a ceasefire agreement, but Hamas has pushed back, calling the allegations misleading and inconsistent with mediator evaluations.

In a statement on Saturday, Izzat al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, responded: “We are stunned by the remarks from U.S. President Trump and his special envoy Whitkoff. These claims contradict the assessments of the mediators and misrepresent Hamas’s position.”

On Friday, President Trump blamed Hamas for derailing ceasefire talks and warned that the group would now "face consequences." A day earlier, U.S. envoy Whitkoff said the group lacked “sufficient goodwill,” prompting the U.S. to scale back its involvement in the negotiations.

Al-Rishq, however, argued that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government remains the real obstacle to peace and is being deliberately overlooked. Hamas also accused Israel of stealing humanitarian aid meant for civilians in Gaza.