In an alarming escalation of violence, Israeli forces have reportedly killed nearly 600 Palestinians in Gaza over the past five weeks, targeting individuals at humanitarian aid distribution centers. These sites, meant to provide food and supplies, have been labeled “death traps” by the United Nations, as desperate civilians risk their lives to secure basic necessities amid relentless gunfire.

Witness accounts from Gaza City reveal the harrowing reality faced by families. Women, often alone, race against men in a desperate bid to feed their children. Wafer, a mother caring for five, scavenges for scraps, recounting her struggles to obtain aid while dodging bullets. “I have no food. I have no water,” she laments, highlighting the grim choices many Palestinians are forced to make—death by gunfire or death by starvation.

The situation has become increasingly dire, with reports of the Israeli military opening fire on crowds waiting for aid. Survivors like Khalil describe crawling on the ground to evade bullets, only to be shot while seeking food for their hungry daughters. “Our food is mixed with our blood,” he states, a chilling testament to the brutality of the ongoing conflict.

Critics argue that the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the U.S. and Israel, serves as a façade for a calculated strategy of violence against the Palestinian population. This militarization of aid has transformed lifesaving efforts into lethal traps, leaving families to grapple with the stark reality of choosing between hunger and gunfire.

As the death toll rises and desperation mounts, the international community faces urgent questions about accountability and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The world watches as Palestinians continue to confront the terrifying choice of risking their lives for a mere scrap of food.