Israeli drone strikes overnight reportedly hit a school sheltering displaced Palestinians east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, killing five people. The attack comes amid intensifying humanitarian collapse across the territory.

At least 80 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday alone, including 25 who were crushed to death in a stampede near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution site. Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces fired tear gas at crowds waiting for aid, causing panic and triggering the deadly rush.

GHF issued a statement defending its role, blaming the chaos on armed groups allegedly present among the crowd. The organisation repeated its claim that it is operating under extreme conditions and that violence is often instigated by militants exploiting aid distribution.

Also on Wednesday, the Israeli army announced the completion of the “Magen Oz Corridor,” a new military road running 15 kilometres north from the Morag Corridor. The new route cuts through the city of Khan Yunis, effectively splitting southern Gaza and further isolating the Rafah area from central regions.

Since GHF began operations in May, at least 851 Palestinians have died while trying to access food, according to local figures. The UN estimates the number at 875, not including those killed on Wednesday.

Daily survival has become a desperate struggle for Gaza’s population. Aid meant to alleviate suffering is increasingly diverted—seized by armed groups, sold on black markets, and withheld from those in urgent need. With food, water, and medicine growing scarcer, humanitarian relief is now part of the conflict’s chaos rather than its cure.

Al Jazeera.