ISRAELI gunfire killed at least 34 people in the Gaza Strip today and wounded hundreds more as deaths among those queueing for aid and from starvation kept rising.

The latest killings coincided with the arrival in Israel of US President Donald Trump’s envoy for discussions on the growing humanitarian crisis.

At least 15 of the people killed were seeking humanitarian aid, according to medical sources.

The toll is expected to rise further, as many of those killed or wounded were brought to isolated, smaller hospitals in northern Gaza and have not yet been counted.

Israeli Defence Force (IDF) representatives said Palestinians surrounded aid trucks and its soldiers fired warning shots into the crowd, but said it wasn’t aware of any injuries stemming from Israeli fire. 

Medical sources also reported that two more people died from starvation today – both children.

The total number of hunger related deaths has now reached 159, including 90 minors.

Mr Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel this afternoon. He is expected to speak with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and a possible ceasefire, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It will be the first meeting between Mr Witkoff and Mr Netanyahu since both Israel and the US summoned their negotiation teams home from Qatar one week ago. 

Mr Witkoff said at the time Hamas’s latest response showed “a lack of desire” to reach a truce.

It is being reported that Mr Witkoff may visit one of the sites of the notorious Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, around whose distribution centres more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israelis over the past two months.

As protests continue to mount and the humanitarian disaster deepens by the day, more Western nations are beginning to step up their criticisms of Israel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that his country plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September. Canada joins France and Britain in saying they intend to take the step.

Mr Carney said his decision had been prompted by the worsening humanitarian crisis and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as by the October 7 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas.

By contrast, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has ruled out immediate actions from Berlin, saying “the recognition of a Palestinian state stands rather at the end of the process.

“But such a process must begin now. Germany will not move from this aim. Germany also will be forced to react to unilateral steps.”