At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a tragic incident at an aid distribution site in Khan Younis, Gaza. Nineteen people were reportedly crushed in a stampede while another was fatally stabbed as thousands gathered in desperate need of food and supplies. The chaos reflects the dire humanitarian conditions prevailing in Gaza after months of conflict and displacement.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, overseeing the aid effort, blamed the tragedy on panic incited by alleged agitators. However, Palestinian sources cited inadequate crowd management and barriers at the aid site as contributing factors. This is the latest in a series of deadly aid distribution events, with hundreds reported killed in similar circumstances over the past six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government is pushing forward with a controversial proposal to construct a so-called “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza. The initiative, introduced by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, aims to resettle up to 600,000 displaced Palestinians initially, with long-term plans to house the entire population of Gaza—over two million people.

Supporters argue that the plan could streamline aid distribution, provide temporary shelter, and weaken Hamas’s influence. However, critics have raised serious concerns, warning that it resembles forced displacement and could function as a form of mass internment under military supervision. There are also questions about the feasibility of the project, with military sources warning it could take many months or even a year to implement, potentially delaying or derailing hostage negotiations.

Legal experts and human rights advocates have described the proposal as a violation of international law, suggesting it could amount to ethnic cleansing if people are forcibly relocated without guarantees of return or autonomy.

The twin developments—mass civilian deaths at an aid site and the unveiling of a massive relocation plan—have intensified criticism of the humanitarian response and raised fresh doubts about the possibility of a durable ceasefire. Observers warn that unless humanitarian aid is delivered with security, transparency, and respect for human rights, the crisis in Gaza is likely to deepen further.