Gaza bakery tragedy: Woman, two children die amid growing food crisis

Two children and a 50-year-old woman were crushed to death outside an overcrowded bakery in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza amid a growing food crisis, doctors have confirmed.

They said those killed suffocated due to overcrowding as desperate residents scrambled for bread at the al-Banna bakery.

The bodies were rushed to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where doctors confirmed their deaths as a result of suffocation caused by the packed crowd.

The flow of food into Gaza has dropped drastically in recent months, with Israeli officials reporting that the amount of aid allowed to the area has fallen to the lowest level in nearly 14 months of conflict.

Why is Gaza facing severe food shortages?

According to the UN and aid groups, the people of Gaza – largely dependent on humanitarian aid – are facing growing hunger and poverty.

Many bakeries there were temporarily closed last week due to a severe shortage of flour.

When they reopened, large crowds gathered, cramming into them to secure what little food was available.

Footage from Deir al-Balah showed people pushing and shouting in the desperate rush.

Throughout the ongoing conflict, many Gazans have relied on bakeries and charity kitchens for at least one meal a day, but food shortages and dangerous conditions continue to worsen.

Why do Israeli soldiers target residents of the West Bank?

The situation in Gaza has escalated since October 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis, taking 250 others hostage and sparking a devastating war that has killed more than 44,000 Gazans and injured over 104,000, according to the territory’s Ministry of Health.

The fighting has resulted in widespread destruction, with nearly 2.3 million Palestinians displaced across Gaza.

The violence continues in the West Bank

In another escalation, a shooting on Friday in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank wounded eight people, according to Israel’s rescue service.

The attacker opened fire on an Israeli bus near the settlement of Ariel before being shot dead by Israeli forces.

Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

The West Bank has seen increasing violence over the past 14 months, with tensions running high since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinian militants have attacked Israeli civilians and soldiers, while Israeli military operations in Palestinian cities have resulted in a rising death toll.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed 796 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to officials, mostly during raids aimed at dismantling militant groups.

In addition, attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian communities and their properties have increased there in recent months.

The continued violence in both Gaza and the West Bank underscores the ongoing instability in the region as the conflict stretches into its second year.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press