AT LEAST 613 Palestinians were killed in just one month near humanitarian convoys and at the aid distribution points of the US-run and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a top United Nations official said today.

“This is a figure as of June 27,” said UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

“Since then, there have been further incidents,” she told reporters in Geneva.

It was not possible to attribute responsibility for all of the killings, she said, while adding that “it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach [GHF] distribution points.”

In a message to reporters, Ms Shamdasani said that of the total tallied, 509 killings were “GHF-related,” meaning at or near its distribution sites.

“Information keeps coming in,” she said. “This is ongoing and it is unacceptable.”

The GHF has denied that there have been any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are the responsibility of Israel’s military.

More deaths near aid distribution sites were reported on Thursday night and into this morning, according to officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF. Another 17 were killed waiting for lorries to pass by in the Tahliya area of eastern Khan Younis.

The 15 Palestinians killed in today’s attacks included eight women and one child, the hospital said. The strikes hit the Muwasi area, where many displaced Palestinians are sheltering in tents.

Hamas said that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions on a ceasefire proposal presented to the resistance group by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

It said it would give its final response to mediators after the discussions had concluded.

US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen.

The total number of Palestinians killed in the coastal enclave since the current crisis began in October 2023 has now passed 57,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said today.