TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 25 individuals seeking aid in Gaza on Wednesday, according to health officials and eyewitnesses. This incident occurred as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would "allow" Palestinians to leave during an impending military offensive in densely populated areas of the territory.

Netanyahu expressed his intention to implement a vision for relocating a significant portion of Gaza's population, which exceeds 2 million, through what he termed "voluntary migration." Critics have raised concerns that this could amount to ethnic cleansing. In an interview with Israeli TV station i24, Netanyahu stated, "Give them the opportunity to leave! First, from combat zones, and also from the Strip if they want. We are not pushing them out but allowing them to leave."

Witnesses and staff at Nasser and Awda hospitals reported that many of the deceased were shot while attempting to reach aid distribution sites or while waiting for convoys to enter Gaza. Israel did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations have resumed after a previous breakdown last month. Hamas and Egyptian officials convened in Cairo on Wednesday, as confirmed by Hamas official Taher al-Nounou. However, the Israeli prime minister's office indicated that Israel would not send a negotiating team to Cairo.

Israel's plans to expand its military offensive against Hamas into areas of Gaza that it does not currently control have drawn criticism both domestically and internationally. This strategy may be aimed at pressuring Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. Hamas continues to hold 50 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the ongoing conflict, with Israel estimating that around 20 of them are still alive. Families of the hostages are increasingly concerned that a new offensive could jeopardize their safety.

When asked about the possibility of a partial ceasefire deal, Netanyahu stated that he wanted all hostages returned, whether alive or deceased. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelatty reported that Cairo is still pursuing an earlier proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, which would include the release of some hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid.

Hamas has insisted that it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The militant group has also refused to disarm.

In a related development, reports surfaced about discussions between Israel and South Sudan regarding the potential relocation of Palestinians to the war-torn East African nation. Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, is visiting South Sudan for meetings but has stated that she will not address the topic of relocating Palestinians. South Sudan's foreign ministry has labeled the reports of such discussions as baseless.

Among those killed while seeking aid were 14 Palestinians in the Teina area, approximately 1.8 miles from a food distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Witness Hashim Shamalah reported that Israeli troops fired at the group as they attempted to pass through, resulting in many being shot while fleeing. Additionally, five other Palestinians were killed while trying to reach another distribution site in the Netzarim corridor.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported no incidents at or near its sites on Wednesday. The U.S. and Israel support the foundation as an alternative to the United Nations, which they accuse of allowing Hamas to divert aid. The U.N. has denied these allegations and continues to deliver aid throughout Gaza when conditions permit.

Israeli fire also killed at least six individuals waiting for aid trucks near the Morag corridor, according to Nasser hospital. The U.N. has warned that starvation levels in Gaza are at their highest since the beginning of the conflict. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 106 children and 129 adults have died from malnutrition-related causes since late June.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 61,700 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but indicates that approximately half were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and is staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it a reliable source for war casualty figures, although Israel disputes these numbers without providing its own.